Blake Bailey’s biography of Philip Roth, which was taken out of print by W.W. Norton following accusations of sexual assault and grooming against the author, has found a new publisher, the Associated Press reports.
Philip Roth: The Biography will be published as a paperback on June 15 by Skyhorse Publishing, with audio and electronic versions available as soon as this week.
Bailey’s book was one of the year’s most anticipated biographies and became a bestseller after publication in April. But not long after its release, the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate reported that a former student accused Bailey of raping her in New Orleans when she was a graduate student. The next day, the New York Times reported that publishing executive Valentina Rice had accused Bailey of sexually assaulting her in New Jersey in 2015.
Days after the reports, Norton pulled the book from print, along with Bailey’s 2014 memoir, The Splendid Things We Planned. Norton President Julia A. Reidhead said, “Mr. Bailey will be free to seek publication elsewhere if he chooses.”
Skyhorse Publishing, a New York–based independent press, has gained a reputation for publishing books by controversial authors. Last year, it picked up a memoir by Woody Allen after it was canceled by Hachette, which drew fire for signing a book deal with the filmmaker, who has been accused of molesting his daughter, Dylan Farrow.
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
