Preview of Toward the End of Time Summary:

In addition to his gift for astute social observation, Updike has for half a century examined from almost every conceivable perspective the complex mix of love, marriage, and sexuality. Some readers will justifiably object that Updike's attitude toward these great universal themes reflects a generally uncritical acceptance of the values implicit in patriarchal culture throughout the millennium. In his masterworks, especially the four books dealing with Harry Angstrom and the collection Too Far to Go: The Maples Stories, Updike has addressed the complexities of marriage in a secular, ego-centered culture. Most readers were probably surprised to learn that Harry and Janice Angstrom were able to maintain their marriage after the many betrayals, disappointments, and infidelities they experienced, even though at the ends of both Rabbit Redux and Rabbit Is Rich it was clear that one reason for their staying together was simply that they really had nowhere else...