This essay was first published in Göteborgs-Posten, 31 May 2018. ‘The epithet American-Jewish writer has no meaning for me’, Philip Roth once said. ‘If I’m not an American, I’m nothing.’ Since the American novelist’s death last week, there have been many fine eulogies to Roth, and to his place in the modern literary pantheon. Some critics have focused on his themes of Jewishness and sex, and with his obsession with himself. Others have looked upon his work as chronicling the […]

Categories: Culture & Books • Tags: american literature, american pastoral, goodbye columbus, i married a communist, identity politics, literature, misogyny, narcissism, novels, philip roth, portnoy's complaint, the american dream, the human stain, usa