Book Group Guides

American Pastoral, by Philip RothAmerican Pastoral, by Philip Roth

Swede Levov, a legendary athlete at his Newark high school, grows up in the booming postwar years to marry a former Miss New Jersey, inherit his father's glove factory, and move into a stone house in the idyllic hamlet of Old Rimrock. And then one day in 1968, Swede's beautiful American luck deserts him. For Swede's adored daughter, Merry, has grown from a loving, quick-witted girl into a sullen, fanatical teenager—a teenager capable of an outlandishly savage act of political terrorism. And overnight Swede is wrenched out of the longed-for American pastoral and into the indigenous American berserk. Compulsively readable, propelled by sorrow, rage, and a deep compassion for its characters, this is Roth's masterpiece.

See the links below for more information about the book and the author.

Reading Group Guide: Information and discussion questions from the publisher, Random House.

Innocence Lost: Philip Roth's American Fulminations: Article and review from Slate Magazine.

Summary and Study Guide: Extensive information on the book provided by ENotes.com.

The Nerve Interview: Philip Roth: Read an interview with the author on Nerve.com.

Philip Roth: In His Own Words: Read an interview with the author from the British newspaper The Independent.

The Philip Roth Society: Visit the website of an organzation devoted to "the study and appreciation of the writings of Philp Roth."

Philip Roth predicts novel will be minority cult within 25 years: A recent article in the Guardian.

Daily Routines: Philip Roth: A profile of the author from the blog "Daily RoutinesHow writers, artists, and other interesting people organize their days."

 

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