This book investigates the social, physiological, and cultural perceptions of aging within medieval European society. Shulamith Shahar, a noted historian of the Middle Ages, synthesizes a wide range of primary sources and secondary literature to construct a comprehensive overview of how the elderly were treated and viewed during this period. The work addresses the lack of historical focus on this demographic, providing a structured analysis of the support systems, medical concerns, and societal attitudes that defined the experience of growing old in the medieval era.

Scholars and historians recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the social history of aging in medieval Europe. Readers frequently note the balance between accessible prose and the density of the historical research presented.