The Facts: A Novelist's Autobiography
Encyclopedia
The Facts: A Novelist's Autobiography (1988
, ISBN 0-679-74905-5) is a book by Philip Roth
that traces his life from his childhood in Newark, New Jersey
to becoming a successful, widely respected novelist. The autobiographical section is bookended by two letters, one from Roth to his fictional alter-ego Nathan Zuckerman
, the other from Zuckerman himself, telling Roth what he sees as problems with the book.
Roth interlaces the present with the past and remote past. The book is divided into six chapters:
This book is included in the fifth volume of Philip Roth's collected works Novels and Other Narratives 1986–1991, published by the Library of America
.
1988 in literature
The year 1988 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-New books:*Margaret Atwood - Cat's Eye*J.G. Ballard - Memories of the Space Age*Iain M...
, ISBN 0-679-74905-5) is a book by Philip Roth
Philip Roth
Philip Milton Roth is an American novelist. He gained fame with the 1959 novella Goodbye, Columbus, an irreverent and humorous portrait of Jewish-American life that earned him a National Book Award...
that traces his life from his childhood in Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
to becoming a successful, widely respected novelist. The autobiographical section is bookended by two letters, one from Roth to his fictional alter-ego Nathan Zuckerman
Nathan Zuckerman
Nathan Zuckerman is a fictional character who appears as the narrator or protagonist of many of Philip Roth's works of fiction.-Character:...
, the other from Zuckerman himself, telling Roth what he sees as problems with the book.
Roth interlaces the present with the past and remote past. The book is divided into six chapters:
- "Prologue" (About his father)
- "Safe at Home" (Growing up in a Jewish neighborhood)
- "Joe College" (College life, first love)
- "Girl of My Dreams" (Chicago years, the woman who became his first wife)
- "All in the Family" (Defending himself against Jewish community attacks on his writing)
- "Now Vee May Perhaps to Begin" (His divorce and death of his first wife)
This book is included in the fifth volume of Philip Roth's collected works Novels and Other Narratives 1986–1991, published by the Library of America
Library of America
The Library of America is a nonprofit publisher of classic American literature.- Overview and history :Founded in 1979 with seed money from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Ford Foundation, the LoA has published over 200 volumes by a wide range of authors from Mark Twain to Philip...
.