“The past is never dead. It's not even past.” William Faulkner wrote that line in Sanctuary, published in 1931. In this sense, Philip Roth is Faulkner’s heir.Roth is a strange author to recommend. He writes beautifully, wrestles with deep questions, and his books are quite well described by his own definition of satire: “Satire is moral outrage transformed into comic art.” But, along with the good, you have to take a lot of ruminations about sex. Fifteen years ago, I tried to read Roth … [Read more...] about Roth and Original Sin
Philip Roth
The Personal is Not Political
“The personal is political” is easily one of the most pernicious claims made in the history of political thought. Rather impressively, it simultaneously degrades both political thought and personal life. Are you defined by your politics? Sadly, far too many people go off to college and are taught that their fundamental identity as a person is nothing more than the set of political beliefs they espouse. It is quite tragic. Philip Roth explores this matter in the novel I Married a … [Read more...] about The Personal is Not Political