Philip Roth and World Literature: Transatlantic Perspectives and Uneasy Passages ed. by Velichka D. Ivanova (review)

This important work seeks to explore the work of Philip Roth in world literature. In fact, it basically explores his work in the context of Eastern European literature, especially what was called “the other Europe” during the Cold War. There are the obligatory explorations of Roth as a Jewish author, and the equally obligatory demurrals about the difficulty of identifying just what exactly a Jewish author may be. Interestingly, no space is given in the book to a discussion of a key work germane to this issue, “Eli, the Fanatic.” This short story offers insight into Roth’s views on being Jewish in America. I find its absence interesting.

However, Ivanova’s brilliant introduction does place Roth’s work in its proper context both as the work of a Jewish-American writer and as one who fits into the broader Euro-American context. Indeed, it appears to me that his attempt to understand his ancestral Jewish-Czech background does, as Ivanova argues, inform his later work, including his edited series on works from “the other Europe,” those countries behind the Iron Curtain. His annual returns do indeed offer an insight into his motives and interests, and his writing does increase in complexity as his experiences deepen. Indeed, I am surprised not to find a discussion or even a mention of “Deception,” to my mind a brilliant gem in which Roth reflects on the Zuckerman as well as the European connections in his works, as well as his editing of “the other Europe” series, not to mention criticisms of his sexy works and a myriad of other issues.

A careful reading of these fine chapters makes that quite clear. There are four sections of the book. Each section takes on a different area of the Euro-American world. Thus, the book begins with a section entitled “American Precursors.” To be honest, although I enjoyed the section, I am not sure exactly what it contributes to understanding Roth in a European context. It does place him within an American context, quite well. His Jewishness, as an outsider, is interestingly compared with Ralph Ellison’s African-American sense of being “invisible.” Also, placing him as an outsider in the New York liberal international circle is a very astute insight. It strengthens the understanding of the complexity of the man within the context of the complexity of his work. There is little doubt that Roth’s popularity is not a result of his being an easy read. Rather, Roth was a great writer whose depth appears upon reflection as a number of the authors aver.

The following three sections examine Roth in various European contexts. Each is well-done. I think the section “The Experience of Prague and Central Europe” is the most interesting. Certainly, Roth viewed that area as holding a secret to understanding his own roots, as well as the key to understanding his parents and grandparents. He felt a strong kinship to the land and its writers. Thus, he returned there frequently. He mentions the experience and tries to explain it in “Deception,” both to his fictional wife and his mistress. Along the way, he further blurs the areas between fact and fiction, and personal and created. He also tackles many criticisms of himself, which are leveled with the novella against his fictional avatar. It is no wonder that it is often difficult to unravel the traps Roth has set to baffle literary critics and his ordinary readers.

The authors in this work have done well in unraveling those traps. This is an extraordinary collection of material, one that rewards close and careful reading. Those who love Roth’s works will be pleased with the detailed studies found here. Ivanova has not only contributed a remarkable opening essay, she has gathered a fine group of scholars to provide a careful and deeper understanding of Roth’s place in Euro-American literature.