By James Atlas
An insightful peek into the complicated journey of friendship and life.
Noted literary biographer James Atlas (1949-2019) shuffles down memory lane. We join him as he recounts his perplexing friendship with novelist Philip Roth (1937-2018), considered by some as "the best and most important American novelist in the last 50 years" (New York Times obituary, May 22, 2018).
We hear Atlas in his own words. I like that. Atlas is nearing or at 70 when he records Remembering Roth. Sure, there are a few places where the diction is muddled, but overall I liked it! To me, his voice lends biographical authenticity to his recollections.
An interesting side note about James Atlas. Not only is he the author of literary biographies of Delmore Schwartz and Saul Bellow, he also launched the Penguin Lives book series, an eclectic collection which includes Martin Luther by Martin Marty, which I recently read and appreciated.
As for Roth, don't read my thoughts, read those of the New York Times. They offer a splendid introduction to his works entitled, If You’ve Never Read Philip Roth’s Books, Here’s Where to Start
Read Remembering Roth for what it is, the recollections about a complicated literary mastermind by a fellow writer, who was both critic and friend.