THE PHILIP ROTH WE DON'T KNOW

A study of the correlation between the life and art of Philip Roth (1933-2018).

In the context of the #MeToo movement, Berlinerblau offers a fresh account of the literary legacy of the award-winning and controversial author. Roth was a master of metafiction, a literary genre that blurs the boundaries between fiction and reality. He was also repeatedly accused of sexism, and many of his works have misogynist undercurrents. One narrative element that emerged in many of his works was a romance between an older man and a much younger woman. Throughout his career, Roth was repeatedly asked about the relationship between his life and art, to which he repeatedly denied any connection. In the context of a “reverse biography,” Berlinerblau analyzes Roth’s books in relation to his “obsessional themes” in order to gain a better understanding of the artist as a whole. In addition to sex, Berlinerblau explores the theme of race in Roth’s fiction, noting that his representations of African Americans and Jews were often presented in “thoughtless and occasionally quite disturbing” ways. The author also explores what he deems “Roth Unsexed,” focusing on his obsession with how men and women change, noting that Roth also had strong opinions regarding the ideal self. “The literary challenge for scholars,” he writes, “is to break down the methods he used to transpose raw experience in exquisite literature.” Berlinerblau recommends assuming that an author’s fiction provides clues to his life “unless proven otherwise,” suggesting that proof exists otherwise in Roth’s case. Drawing from opposing criticism of scholars as well as his own observations, the author demonstrates revealing methods for viewing Roth and his body of work. Although Berlinerblau’s conclusions are plausible, the method in which he articulates them is not always straightforward. He frequently sidetracks his own discussions and repeatedly states the intentions of his book and the direction he will be taking before making his points.

Intriguing new perspectives on a contentious writer.