ABSTRACT

These memorable reflections on growing old start as jocular family history then turn to the art of living a long life (and dying well). They were first published in Family Doctor, London, 1 (June 1951): 124–5 (B&R C51.23), a three-month-old journal of popular medical advice sponsored by the British Medical Association (which paid Russell’s fee of 21 guineas). The founding editor of this slightly odd forum for such lustrous prose was Dr. Harvey Flack—enterprising and persuasive but unable to coax a second article out of his famous contributor (from Russell, 15 Feb. 1952). Minus the first two paragraphs and with a transition sentence added to open the third, 43 also ends the penultimate chapter (on happiness) of New Hopes for a Changing World (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1951), pp. 208–10 (B&R A89). Although the article text was probably incorporated into the book, the reverse may have occurred as the latter typescript was complete by early May 1951. A still more abridged treatment was run by an unidentified (but probably American) serial as “How to Live the Full Life at 80”, Aug. 1952, p. 29 (copy in RA). Four years later the longer version appeared in Portraits from Memory (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1956), pp. 50–2 (B&R A102), and (for a final time) as “You Can Grow Old Gracefully”, Reynolds News and Sunday Citizen, London, 21 Oct. 1956. The last four paragraphs of 43 also feature in 33a (248: 41–250: 5).