Culture
23 May 18

Author Philip Roth Has Died

The giant of American literature, who won the Pulitzer, National Book Award and Man Booker during his writing career, has passed away at the age of 85.

Philip Roth died of congestive heart failure, according to a friend being quoted in this morning's New York Times.
The author first found success and critical acclaim back in 1959 with his collection of short stories, 'Goodbye Columbus'.
Roth's profile rose significantly in 1969 after the publication of Portnoy's Complaint, the humorous and sexually explicit psychoanalytical monologue of "a lust-ridden, mother-addicted young Jewish bachelor," filled with "intimate, shameful detail, and coarse, abusive language".
He published over 30 books in total, but his best known works are arguably 'Portnoy's Complaint', 'American Pastoral', and 'I Married a Communist'.
Roth tried to stay out of the limelight as much as possible and told the BBC back in 2014 that he wouldn't do anymore TV interviews. "I can guarantee you that this is my last appearance ever on television... absolutely [my] last appearance on any stage anywhere," he said at the time.
Tributes are flowing in this morning. The New York Times Book Review editor Pamela Paul hailed Roth as "one of our greats". While his biographer Blake Bailey described him as being "a darling man" and "greatest living writer".

Philip Roth died tonight, surrounded by lifelong friends who loved him dearly. A darling man and our greatest living writer. pic.twitter.com/v01QkXi7wD

— Blake Bailey (@BlakeBaileyOn) May 23, 2018