Now We Are Sixty

Christopher Matthew (author)

David Eccles (illustrator)

John Murray, UK: 1999; 111pp

ISBN: 0719559790

Genres: humour, poetry

Issues: aging

'When I was One/ The War had begun,/ When I was Ten/ It was wartime again./ When I was Twenty/ I thought I knew plenty./ When I was Thirty/ I liked to be flirty./ When I was Forty/ I got rather sporty./ When I was Fifty/ I turned very thrifty./ But now that I'm Sixty, I've got to confess/ That more often than not, I couldn't care less.'

This delightful collection of poems will cause much hilarity amongst older readers as they enjoy the sly references to those aspects of getting older that we all wish didn't happen and like to ignore. Far better than complaining about illnesses, ailments, aches and pains are the light-hearted, slightly wistful references to past experiences, lost dreams and wisdom that only comes with the years.

While intimate familiarity with A.A.Milne's Now We Are Six is not essential, it will certainly add to the reader's enjoyment of these exceptionally clever parodies of some of that great writer's famous children's poems.

Very clever illustrations by David Eccles reflect his 'sincere and affectionate tribute to the genius of Ernest Shepard'. Even the dustjacket reflects the tongue-in-cheek humour, being designed to look torn, age-stained and well-loved. Great for reading aloud and definitely the best 60th birthday gift for the avid reader.

Highly recommended.

Same Author: Now That We are Sixty – and a bit; Diary of a Somebody; Loosely Engaged; Three Men in a Boat