When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple [Paperback]

Sandra Haldeman Martz (Editor), Jenny Joseph (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1991

This enchanting collection of writings and photographs evokes the beauty, humor and courage of women living in their later years and tells of the endearing moments of joy--and passion--to be found in the rich and varied world of midlife and beyond. An award-winning anthology that takes a refreshing look at issues of aging in a society that glorifies youth.

Editorial Reviews

Review

All The Time by Michael Andrews
Birthday Portrait In Muted Tones by Dori Appel
Life's Rainbow by Sheila Banani
Aunt Marie At 99 by Tom Benediktsson
The Trouble Was Meals by Elizabeth Bennett
Social Security by Barbara Bolz
Here, Take My Words by Karen Brodine
Athlete Growing Old by Grace Butcher
Old Woman by Billie Lou Cantwell
Translations by Margaret H. Carson
Litany For A Neighbor by Ellin E. Carter
Livvy Caldwell by Barbara Nector Davis
The Thugs by Mura Dehn
Come To Me by Sue Saniel Elkind
Late Autumn Woods by Rina Ferrarelli
Survived By His Wife by Margaret Flanagan
To An Old Woman by Rafael Jesus Gonzalez
Hurricane by Edna J. Guttag
Reaching Toward Beauty by Hyacinthe Hill
The Pianist by Carolyn J. Fairweather Hughes
Bag Ladies by Ruth Harriet Jacobs
Becoming Sixty by Ruth Harriet Jacobs
Like Mother, Like Daughter by Susan S. Jacobson
Investment Of Worth by Terri L. Jewell
Warning by Jennifer Joseph
New Directions by Susan Arons Katz
Grandma Sits Down by Rick Kempa
Endings by Lynn Kozma
Old Women by Barbara Lau
Words Never Spoken by Doris Vanderlipp Manley
The Coming Of Winter by Shirley Vogler Meister
Maybe At Eighty? by S. Minanel
I Know The Mirrors by Janice Townley Moore
Body by Lillian Morrison
Words For Alice After Her Death by Angela Peckenpaugh
Endurance by Fran Portley
Occupation by Bonnie Michael Pratt
Clearing The Path by Elisavietta Ritchie
Dear Paul Newman by Marie Kennedy Robins
Bag Ladies In L.a. by Savina A. Roxas
A Letter From Elvira by Bettie Mixon Sellers
A Place For Mother: A Checklist by Joanne Seltzer
A Place For Mother: A Sudden Illness by Joanne Seltzer
A Place For Mother: Confusion by Joanne Seltzer
A Place For Mother: In Conclusion by Joanne Seltzer
A Place For Mother: Life Must Go On by Joanne Seltzer
A Place For Mother: More Advice by Joanne Seltzer
A Place For Mother: Platitudes by Joanne Seltzer
A Place For Mother: Preliminary Advice by Joanne Seltzer
A Place For Mother: The Orphan by Joanne Seltzer
A Place For Mother: The Search by Joanne Seltzer
Last Visit To Grandmother by Enid Shomer
A Woman At Forty by Enid Shomer
Post Humus by Patti Tana
Planting by Cinda Thompson
For My Mother by Michele Wolf
Love At Fifty by Marcia Woodruff
-- Table of Poems from Poem Finder® --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Eleven years after its first publication, the writing and art in this powerful and provocative award-winning anthology still touches millions of readers worldwide. Acclaimed for its honesty and realism on a sensitive issue-"It sounds a message, addressing a group that needs and wants to hear it" (Los Angeles Times)-WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR PURPLE mixes celebratory and joyous stories with those depicting the harder edge of aging. These elements are masterfully woven into a single story line that invites readers to rethink societal attitudes and messages about older women.

A favorite gift book, a popular reading group choice, and a perennial bestseller with more than 1.5 million copies sold, WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR PURPLE celebrates the message of aging as a natural gift of life.

This groundbreaking book that "launched a new movement, a new way of looking at aging" (San Antonio Express-News) includes the famous title poem by Jenny Joseph that started the purple craze. Millions of women have taken its message to heart: it's OK to grow older; in fact it's terrific! "You're not getting older, just a little more purple." (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 181 pages
• Publisher: Papier-Mache Press; 2nd edition (July 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0918949165
• ISBN-13: 978-0918949165
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #855,795 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic and Classy Gift for the Maturing Woman...., August 29, 2000

By 

Quaker Annie "reader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple (Paperback)

This book is a great gift for that woman (or sensitive guy) who is celebrating one of the Big Birthdays - whether 30, 40, 50, 60 or more.

Along with the usual boring gifts that joke about being over the hill, this gift is a welcome and much needed aid to the transition that birthdays mark. The well-loved poem encourages the reader to appreciate each moment of life while it is happening.

I have received this as a gift, loaned out mine, given copies as gifts. It always seems to be appreciated. Its a nice gift by itself. For someone really special to you - mother, sister, friend, lover - it could be given with a small piece of purple - a scarf, tie, t-shirt, flowers, earrings. Everytime the purple gift is worn, the gift and the poem will be remembered, and the moment will linger....

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Afraid of Growing Old? Read this book...Don't read this book, July 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple (Hardcover)

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" the opening line from "A Tale of Two Cities" could well describe this book. If you are afraid of growing old, read this book. If you are afraid of growing old, DON'T read this book. I loved it! It made me laugh (Especially the short story "The trouble was Meals" I hated it! It was depressing, well, maybe poignant and sad would be better choice of words.

It is an anthology, a collective from different contributors. Some are great, some did not suite me. At times it made me feel how hard it will be to grow old and the difficulty of life as an older woman. Then again, I found it wonderful when I found the message... " Lighten up and enjoy life while you are still able and healthy" And yes I agree with another reviewer that "...women of all ages can and should enjoy life to the fullest; but at times it will make you sigh. More often it will make you think, and I guarantee it will make you smile!

I sent the book to my intellectual 50+ sister, I knew she would love it. I didn't send it to my sensitive younger sister, I knew it would upset her. I gave a copy to my well-read best friend on her 50th and she loved it. I would NEVER give it to my 80+ mother, she'd be depressed for weeks.

If you give it as a gift, read it first! As for me, since I read it, I find my 52-year-old self, wearing a little more purple!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My mother looks great in purple., May 5, 2001

By 

JerseyGirlms "maryms107" (Rockaway, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple (Paperback)

I gave this book to my mother on her 75th birthday - she will be eighty soon, and refers to the title everytime she does something out of the ordinary, like gardening in the rain, line-dancing, wearing jeans while watching the sun set in Key West, riding in my convertible with the top down right after she had her hair "done", etc. I just bought two copies for my aunts who are in their eighties, and would never dream of doing what their "baby sister" does. Maybe they'll lighten up and enjoy life while they are still able and healthy. This book encourages women of all ages to enjoy life to the fullest.