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Long-term couples20 January 2010
What makes a relationship last?

Women’s life expectancy is now 81 and men’s is 77. That means when we enter a relationship in our 20s or 30s then a long time can stretch out ahead of us to have and to hold. Add to that our romantic notions of meeting a soulmate and having a fairytale wedding, and it’s not difficult to see why some couples founder. But many of us achieve lasting, nurturing, fair relationships that give us security, confidence and love. So how do some couples do it? Kate Figes has spoken to many of them and aims to separate myth from reality in her new book 'Couples: The Truth'; Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall has been married for 47 years and her book 'For Better For Worse' is out soon.

'Couples: The Truth' by Kate Figes is published by Virago, ISBN 978-1-84408-467-8

'For Better For Worse' by Jane Fearnley-Whittingstall is published 4 March by Short Books, ISBN 978-1-904977-76-6
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