Gerontologists are finding literature an increasingly valuable resource for studies of images of aging, psychology, and the life review. In this article I explore the life review as it is depicted in Angle of Repose, a novel by the late Wallace Stegner, in which the protagonist finds himself engaged in life review through writing his grandmother's biography. A tale within a tale, the novel portrays the narrator's journey toward self-understanding as it is shaped and illuminated by his family research. I explore the role of interpretation in historical narrative and literature as well as life review, and conclude with consideration of the value of fictitious accounts for real-life situations.