Someday All This Will Be Yours: A History of Inheritance and Old Age

by Hendrik Hartog

Overview

Hartog tells the heartbreaking stories of how families fought over the work of caring for the elderly, and its compensation, in a time before pensions, Social Security, and nursing homes filled this gap. As an explosive economy drew the young away from home, we see how the elderly used promises of inheritance to keep children at their side.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674283190
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	01/15/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	363
File size:	634 KB

About the Author

Hendrik Hartog is Class of 1921 Bicentennial Professor in the History of American Law and Liberty at Princeton University.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Over the Hill 1

Part 1 Planning for Old Age

1 Of Helplessness and Power 37

2 The Work of Promises 77

3 Keeping Them Close 109

4 Things Fall Apart 144

Part 2 Death and Lawyers

5 A Life Transformed 169

6 Compensations for Care 206

7 Paid Work 249

Epilogue 267

Notes 287

Acknowledgments 343

Index 347

Editorial Reviews

Aside from the history of development in this area of law, the book offers a social and cultural history of families caring for their elder members. This book will be of interest not only to those interested in estate law but also students and researchers of gerontology.

Choice - C. Ross

Hartog brilliantly illuminates the central role that law has played in shaping Americans' ideas about getting old. Poignant, funny, and analytically razor-sharp, this is a groundbreaking book.

Dylan Penningroth

In this gem of a book, Hartog reveals the human drama of growing old and dependent, and the enduring dilemma in mixing love and economic need.

Martha Minow

A page-turner with Dickensian overtones.

New York Times blog - Fred A Bernstein

With empathy and captivating style, Hartog, a superb historian, offers a memorable analysis of changing family struggles over inheritance and care.

Viviana A. Zelizer

This is a disturbing book, in the best sense—a transformative book. With unique sensitivity and ingenuity, Hartog tells a profound story about the meaning of inheritance and what one owes and is owed as a member of a family, making brilliant history of seemingly eternal human predicaments.

Amy Dru Stanley

Aside from the history of development in this area of law, the book offers a social and cultural history of families caring for their elder members. This book will be of interest not only to those interested in estate law but also students and researchers of gerontology.
— C. Ross

Choice

A page-turner with Dickensian overtones.
— Fred A Bernstein

New York Times blog