Philip Roth

A landmark biography of one of our most prominent chroniclers of American life In this groundbreaking literary biography, Steven J. Zipperstein captures the complex life and astonishing work of Philip Roth (1933–2018), one of America’s most celebrated writers. Born in Newark, New Jersey—where his short stories and books were often set—Roth wrote with ambition and awareness of what was required to produce great literature. No writer was more dedicated to his craft, even as he was rubbing shoulders with the Kennedys and engaging in a spate of famous and infamous romances. And yet, as much as Roth wrote about sex and self, he viewed himself as socially withdrawn, living much like an “unchaste monk” (his words). Zipperstein explores the unprecedented range of Roth’s work—from “Goodbye, Columbus” and Portnoy’s Complaint to the Pulitzer Prize–winning American Pastoral and The Plot Against America . Drawing on extensive archival materials and over one hundred interviews, including conversations with Roth about his life and work, Zipperstein provides an intimate and insightful look at one of the twentieth century’s most influential writers, placing his work in the context of his obsessions, as well as American Jewishness, freedom, and sexuality.

A landmark biography of one of our most prominent chroniclers of American life In this groundbreaking literary biography, Steven J. Zipperstein captures the complex life and astonishing work of Philip Roth (1933-2018), one of America's most celebrated writers. Born in Newark, New Jersey--where his short stories and books were often set--Roth wrote with ambition and awareness of what was required to produce great literature. No writer was more dedicated to his craft, even as he was rubbing shoulders with the Kennedys and engaging in a spate of famous and infamous romances. And yet, as much as Roth wrote about sex and self, he viewed himself as socially withdrawn, living much like an "unchaste monk" (his words). Zipperstein explores the unprecedented range of Roth's work--from "Goodbye, Columbus" and Portnoy's Complaint to the Pulitzer Prize-winning American Pastoral and The Plot Against America . Drawing on extensive archival materials and over one hundred interviews, including conversations with Roth about his life and work, Zipperstein provides an intimate and insightful look at one of the twentieth century's most influential writers, placing his work in the context of his obsessions, as well as American Jewishness, freedom, and sexuality.

I "Philip Roth” tegner Blake Bailey et gribende portræt af Philip Roth og hans litterære efterkrigsunivers. Efter aftale med Philip Roth fik Blake Bailey fuld adgang til Roths liv i adskillige år. Han gennemtrawlede Roths arkiv, interviewede hans venner, elskere og kollegaer og havde lange snakke med Roth selv. Resultatet af de mange års arbejde er "Philip Roth”. I bogen beretter Bailey om alt fra Roths jødiske opvækst i den lavere middelklasse og hvordan han opnåede stor litterær berømmelse, til hans første ægteskab og hvordan det næsten endte med at koste ham karrieren. Blake Bailey undersøger også Roths konkurrenceprægede venskaber med Saul Bellow, John Updike og William Styron og afslører detaljer om hans interessante kærlighedsliv, der kulminerede med det årelange forhold til skuespillerinden Claire Bloom, der udleverede ham i selvbiografien Leaving a Doll's House fra 1996. "Philip Roth” følger Roths vej fra realismen til farcen til de tragiske mesterværker i "The American Trilogy” og tegner et billede af en engageret og dedikeret mand, der beskæftigede sig med og interesserede sig for alle aspekter af efterkrigstidens USA.

I "Philip Roth” tegner Blake Bailey et gribende portræt af Philip Roth og hans litterære efterkrigsunivers. Efter aftale med Philip Roth fik Blake Bailey fuld adgang til Roths liv i adskillige år. Han gennemtrawlede Roths arkiv, interviewede hans venner, elskere og kollegaer og havde lange snakke med Roth selv. Resultatet af de mange års arbejde er "Philip Roth”. I bogen beretter Bailey om alt fra Roths jødiske opvækst i den lavere middelklasse og hvordan han opnåede stor litterær berømmelse, til hans første ægteskab og hvordan det næsten endte med at koste ham karrieren. Blake Bailey undersøger også Roths konkurrenceprægede venskaber med Saul Bellow, John Updike og William Styron og afslører detaljer om hans interessante kærlighedsliv, der kulminerede med det årelange forhold til skuespillerinden Claire Bloom, der udleverede ham i selvbiografien Leaving a Doll's House fra 1996. "Philip Roth” følger Roths vej fra realismen til farcen til de tragiske mesterværker i "The American Trilogy” og tegner et billede af en engageret og dedikeret mand, der beskæftigede sig med og interesserede sig for alle aspekter af efterkrigstidens USA.