Philip Roth biography: train wreck

For discussion of Philip Roth: The Biography, which may end up being the scandal of 2021 in the publishing world. Good place to start: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/21/books/philip-roth-blake-bailey.html and see also the lone review critical of the book which got it right before the allegations about Bailey broke: https://newrepublic.com/article/161640/philip-roths-revenge-fantasy-review-blake...

Also check Audible customer reviews of the reading by George Guidall, who is one of the best narrators and been around for decades, but for some strange reason, on this book, he made it unlistenable (according to the reviewers). https://www.audible.com/pd/Philip-Roth-Audiobook/1705023274

>1 Stbalbach:
Wow. I love Guidall as a reader and was about to order this Audible. Now I'm reconsidering, at least...

I try to judge authors and the merit of their works separately, but this goes even beyond that. Don't think I could stomach it now, as much as a Roth biography interests me. I'll wait for a more objective one. A publisher that's willing to take so sizeable a financial hit over this (they paid him six figures) wins some credit from me.

>1 Stbalbach: That was one very interesting and revealing review. What a piece of shit it makes Roth sound as a person.

>4 anglemark:

Yeah, but there are two (at least!) sides to every story. I still think he's a great artist.

>3 Cecrow:

What makes you think the bio isn't objective?

Uh-oh...

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/blake-bailey-philip-roth-and-...

Why doesn't Roth just write his own biography and get it over with? It won't be any more or less honest and he is just as good a writer as anyone he is going find.

Because he's dead. Tough hang.

>6 lilithcat:, see this review's analysis of the author's attitude towards Roth's wife: http://www.edrants.com/blake-bailey-casual-misogynist-and-eager-rube/

>9 Bookmarque: Ooops…..

>9 Bookmarque:

There's a zombie section on the Dead or Alive page for a reason you know.