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 And yet, as much as Roth wrote about sex and self, he viewed himself as socially withdrawn, living much like an "unchaste monk" (his words).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.
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 10/14/2025
ISBN: 9780300251555
Pages: 368
Review Citations: Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2025
