Summary

“The Age of Lead” by Margaret Atwood tells the story of Jane, who is watching a show on TV that presents the excavation of a frozen body, belonging to a man who was on the Franklin Expedition 150 years ago. The crew of two ships died on the expedition due to unknown causes.

Jane recalls Vincent, a man she began dating when she was sixteen. The two of them were not officially together, but they saw each other frequently. During their dates, they would make fun of their mothers or go out wearing old-fashioned costumes. Jane’s mother approved of Vincent, but she always warned Jane against undesirable consequences such as babies and marriage.

On TV, the scientists announce they have melted some of the ice and go on to analyse the dead man’s clothes.

Jane begins to recall her relationship with Vincent after high school. In the first year of university, she stopped seeing other people and began to feel that she was in love with Vincent. However, they never made love because Vincent did not give her the chance. After that, they moved to different places but kept sending each other postcards. ...