Philip Roth

Philip Roth is one of our greatest contemporary historical fiction writers. His 1997 Pulitzer prize winning book, American Pastoral, tells the story of a European Jewish family, Lou Levov and his son, Swede, who inherits his father's glove making tannery in New Jersey during the fifties. The turbulent sixties is the backdrop for this seemingly "pastoral" family who disintegrates into oblivion brought about by their daughter's egregious acts against America to assuage any guilt she may have felt about being upper-middle class. Roth's narrative descriptions are similar to James Michener's extensive use of visual content.

Writer's Digest Competition

Send your best 1500 words or fewer short story to Writers Digest Short Short Story Competition, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990 by 12/1/08 for $12 entry fee and you could win $3,000 and a publishing contract.