Covering an increasingly important topic in sociology, this book is a thorough and lively introduction to the role and importance of age in contemporary British society. The first two chapters introduce the reader to thinking about age from a sociological perspective. Asking the question 'What is age?' and then guiding the reader through the main theoretical approaches to its sociological study. The core of the book represents the latest information on each of the major age divisions in Britain: childhood; youth; adulthood; later life and old age. The book compares the role of age in Britain today with different cultures and periods in history, as well as assessing the importance and influence of biology, biography, gender, ethnicity, and class. A special feature of the book is the way it pays close attention to the increasingly important notion of 'generation' in explaining British social structure and behaviour. It looks at the way belonging to different 'generations' creates identities and shapes relationships within families and across society.The book will be an invaluable introduction and point of reference for students of sociology, human geography, and social policy, as well as professionals and trainees in the caring professions. The Oxford Modern Britain series comprises authoritative introductory books on all aspects of the social structure of modern Britain. Lively and accessible, the books will be the first point of reference fo They will be invaluable to those taking courses in the Social Sciences. Series Editor: Professor John Scott, Department of Sociology, University of Essex