The last four novels Roth composed prior to his retirement—which include Everyman, Indignation, The Humbling, and Nemesis have also been lately grouped together as “Nemeses.” The novels—more accurately deemed novellas, in sharp contrast to hefty tomes likes those collected as “The American Trilogy”—are not grouped together by a common protagonist, but rather by their notable brevity and by common theme: all four deal closely with the subject of mortality. This chapter offers an expanded discussion for the rationale of grouping these novels together (and, as with the other categorizations, the pitfalls of doing so), and will provide an overview of their critical reception and commentary on how they draw upon and depart from Roth’s earlier body of work.
Contribution to Book
The Late Novellas
Cambridge University Press
Document Type
Contribution to Book
Publication Date
1-1-2021
Disciplines
Abstract
Editor
Maggie McKinley
DOI
10.1017/9781108776547.014
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
ISBN
9781108776547, 9781108489294
Citation Information
Aarons, V. (2021). The late novellas. In M. McKinley (Ed.), Philip Roth in context (pp. 111-120). Cambridge University Press. http://doi.org/10.1017/9781108776547.014