The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/philip-roth/ News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World Thu, 11 Jun 2026 05:09:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://static-cdn.toi-media.com/www/uploads/2018/11/toi_icon_512-200x200.png Philip Roth | The Times of Israel https://www.timesofisrael.com/topic/philip-roth/ 32 32 Philip Roth’s latest biographer wants Jews to read him again — without the guilt https://www.timesofisrael.com/philip-roths-latest-biographer-wants-jews-to-read-him-again-without-the-guilt/ Thu, 30 Oct 2025 23:21:22 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3674803 In 'Philip Roth: Stung by Life,' Stanford professor Steven Zipperstein argues for the brilliance and relevance of a writer who 'probed nearly every aspect of contemporary Jewish life'

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]]> How New Yorker writer Ariel Levy adapted Philip Roth’s filthiest book for the stage https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-new-yorker-writer-ariel-levy-adapted-philip-roths-filthiest-book-for-the-stage/ Mon, 06 Nov 2023 23:37:18 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=3144814 Collaborating with John Turturro, who played another Roth character in HBO's 'The Plot Against America,' the play 'Sabbath’s Theater' is about sex and is a 'meditation on mourning'

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]]> Even Portnoy wouldn’t complain about Newark gala for provocative author Philip Roth https://www.timesofisrael.com/even-portnoy-wouldnt-complain-about-newark-gala-for-provocative-author-philip-roth/ Fri, 17 Mar 2023 02:15:51 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2972753 Actors John Turturro, Matthew Broderick and Tony Shalhoub, plus a slew of appropriately edgy writers, will head up a 3-day literary festival for the hometown hero March 17-19

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]]> Is that (still) funny? Scholar explores generational shifts in Jewish humor https://www.timesofisrael.com/is-that-still-funny-scholar-explores-generational-shifts-in-jewish-humor/ Tue, 07 Mar 2023 03:45:09 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2962640 In her new book, 'Funny, You Don't Look Funny,' Jennifer Caplan traces attitudes toward American Jewish comedy from Philip Roth to 'Seinfeld,' 'SNL' and 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'

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]]> ‘Don’t rehabilitate me, make me interesting’: Philip Roth bio to drop in spring https://www.timesofisrael.com/dont-rehabilitate-me-make-me-interesting-philip-roth-bio-to-drop-in-spring/ Fri, 31 Jul 2020 09:53:52 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2358472 'Why should a gentile from Oklahoma write the biography of Philip Roth?' That's what Blake Bailey says the late Jewish novelist asked him when approached about the book

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]]> I cover anti-Semitism. ‘The Plot Against America’ is the scariest show I’ve seen https://www.timesofisrael.com/i-cover-anti-semitism-the-plot-against-america-is-the-scariest-show-ive-seen/ Sat, 18 Apr 2020 13:40:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2285995 With an incredibly realistic world and characters, and an unsettling sense of government manipulation, TV drama has made everything I work with feel more close to home

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]]> The true history behind HBO’s ‘The Plot Against America’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/the-true-history-behind-hbos-the-plot-against-america/ Sat, 21 Mar 2020 13:37:44 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2264785 Yes, Charles Lindbergh really did give that anti-Semitic speech. No, he didn't really run for US president... but the idea is not simply a product of Philip Roth’s imagination

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]]> Now may be the best time to watch HBO’s surreal ‘The Plot Against America’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/now-may-be-the-best-time-to-watch-hbos-surreal-the-plot-against-america/ Thu, 19 Mar 2020 00:39:23 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2262236 Airing weekly through April 20, the six-part series based on a Philip Roth novel imagines a vastly different outcome to WWII in the US, and pairs well with current headlines

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]]> David Simon didn’t like Philip Roth’s ‘The Plot Against America’ — until now https://www.timesofisrael.com/david-simon-didnt-like-philip-roths-the-plot-against-america-until-now/ Tue, 17 Mar 2020 23:55:16 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2261453 The Jewish writer, producer and showrunner saw the 2004 novel about an alternate WWII reality as outdated -- until, he says, a spike in bigotry under the Trump administration

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]]> ‘Plot Against America’ brings anti-Semitic what-if to TV https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-series-the-plot-against-america-portrays-anti-semitic-president/ Fri, 31 Jan 2020 17:47:10 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2232336 HBO releases first trailer from television adaptation of Philip Roth novel about election of aviator-turned-fascist Charles Lindbergh

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]]> A look at the most interesting Philip Roth possessions up for auction https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-look-the-most-interesting-of-philip-roths-possessions-up-for-auction/ Fri, 12 Jul 2019 10:01:52 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2110689 Some of the late Jewish author’s typewriters are among the 129 items from his estate to be sold next week, with proceeds going to charity

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]]> Philip Roth’s New York apartment up for sale https://www.timesofisrael.com/philip-roths-new-york-apartment-up-for-sale/ Fri, 22 Feb 2019 12:48:03 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=2023928 Pulitzer Prize-winning Jewish author’s two-bedroom place on Manhattan’s Upper West Side being offered for $3.2 million

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]]> Media giant traces secular Jewish roots in the leaves of great American authors https://www.timesofisrael.com/media-giant-traces-secular-jewish-roots-in-the-leaves-of-great-american-authors/ Wed, 22 Aug 2018 20:51:15 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1908110 Promoting his new book, former editor-in-chief of Business Week, Stephen Shepard, says writers such as Saul Bellow and Philip Roth 'make it okay' to be a non-religious Jew

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]]> Philip Roth was — and will be — a character https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/philip-roths-greatest-creation-was-a-character-named-philip-roth/ Fri, 01 Jun 2018 05:41:04 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1861887 The late author's persona will likely keep cropping up in new works long after his death

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]]> Philip Roth won’t be having a Jewish funeral https://www.timesofisrael.com/philip-roth-wont-be-having-a-jewish-funeral/ Fri, 25 May 2018 21:36:00 +0000 https://www.timesofisrael.com/?p=1858165 Celebrated writer 'expressly forbade' religious rituals at his burial, but chose plot near Jewish colleagues 'so he has someone to talk to'

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