I don't want to complain or sound bitter, but my job search is in shambles. 22 years ago I received a PhD in history and have since published 7 books and much else. Nonetheless I can't find a good job. Instead I've been cutting grass for decades. At age 53 my arthritis is catching up to me and it's a chore to push a mower. I don't know what to do. Do real jobs with real salaries exist?

There is no point complaining or sounding bitter. That is just a waste of time and energy. If your skills are not attracting the job you want then you need to retrain. It's as simple as that and it doesn't matter what age you are or what qualifications you have.
I am not sure what you mean by a real job. Cutting grass is very much a real job in my book.
What is it you actually want to do, what skills do you have for that job and what have you tried so far to obtain that job?