Those We Hold Dear The Story of Grandparents and How We Connect Through the Ages

In this absorbing combination of memoir, reportage, and history, Nick Duerden presents a moving analysis of what grandparents mean to us in the 21st century. Many of us see less of our grandparents than we used to, as families are so dispersed. And yet grandparents often play a unique role in our lives; there’s something special about this relationship, even as we attempt—and sometimes fail—to bridge the gap between ages, perspectives, and worldviews. Exploring his own nuanced relationship with his 97-year-old grandmother—whose family secrets are still being revealed—Nick Duerden touches on issues such as elderly care; the value we place on older people; our aging population; and, perhaps most importantly, how we relate to those of a different generation—whether they’re our relatives or not. Capturing the warmth and richness—and complexity—of family relationships, this is both a universal story and an essential contribution to the debate about modern family and identity.

Nick Duerden is a freelance journalist whose work appears regularly in a wide selection of newspapers and magazines in the UK and US, including the Guardian, Independent, Sunday Times, GQ, Esquire, Billboard, and Elle. He is the author of two novels and a memoir, The Reluctant Fathers’ Club.