by Philip Roth
First published 1962
Newly discharged from the army, Gabe Wallach is adrift, reeling from his mother's death. He finds himself drawn to Paul Herz, a fellow graduate student, and Libby, Paul's mercurial wife. As Gabe navigates their turbulent relationship, he must confront his own desires for intimacy and belonging, testing the ordered world of literature against the unruly passions of the heart. Roth's vivid prose captures the restless energy of a man searching for meaning in the aftermath of war and personal tragedy.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, american-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, grief
Setting: United States
Period: Post-World War II
640 pages · Paperback · Vintage Books USA