The Anatomy Lesson
by Philip Roth
FIRST EDITION
Publisher: The Franklin Library, 1983
This limited first edition of THE ANATOMY LESSON has been private printed, and personally signed by Philip Roth, exclusively for members of The Signed First Edition Society
Copyright 1983 by Philip Roth
Printed in USA
“Dear Collector:
With the publication of GOODBYE, COLUMBUS in 1959, and the subsequent winning of the coveted National Book Award in 1960, Philip Roth firmly established his place in the American literary world. in THE ANATOMY LESSON, his fourteenth book, Roth continues to explore the pathos and the comedy of the human condition.
Nine years ago, in his novel, LIFE AS A MAN (1974), Roth introduced budding writer Nathan Zuckerman. Zuckerman’s life and career are further chronicled in THE GHOST WRITER (1979) and ZUCKERMAN UNBOUND (1981). In THE ANATOMY LESSON, the Zuckerman story continues.
Successful, famous and well-to-do, Nathan Zuckerman should be master of his own world. Instead we discover that Zuckerman has been leveled by eighteen months of undecipherable and intractable pain in his upper back and neck. Despite non-stop advice from friends, livers, strangers and endless neurologists, orthopedists, and psychoanalysts, no cure is in sight. At the age of forty, he is also besieged by searing memories, relentless doubts, guilt, and a tremendous sense of loss….particularly the loss of his sense of worth as a writer.
Gail Sheeny, in PASSAGES, sheds some light on this turmoil:
‘In our society, turning 40 for a man is a marker event… wunderkinder [superachievers] and workaholics who do come close to realizing their dream often have a more rugged transition to make than those who miss the mark.’”
"The Anatomy Lesson" delves into the tumultuous life of Nathan Zuckerman, a successful but increasingly tormented writer, as he grapples with a mysterious and debilitating physical pain that disrupts his creative and personal existence. Roth uses Zuckerman's agonizing condition as a vehicle to explore themes of artistic frustration, the relationship between body and mind, and the anxieties of aging. Zuckerman's struggle becomes a darkly comic and introspective journey through his own psyche, as he confronts his past, his relationships, and the very nature of his identity as a writer, ultimately questioning the boundaries between art and life, and the power of physical suffering to reshape one's sense of self.
Philip Roth was a highly acclaimed American novelist, celebrated for his probing explorations of Jewish-American identity, sexuality, and the complexities of modern life. His prolific body of work, including "Portnoy's Complaint," "American Pastoral," and the Zuckerman novels, established him as a major figure in American literature. Roth's achievements include numerous awards, such as the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Medal, recognizing his profound contributions to literature and his unflinching examination of the human condition. His writing, characterized by its intellectual rigor, satirical wit, and unflinching honesty, has left an indelible mark on American literature, prompting readers to confront uncomfortable truths and challenging societal norms.
Please review each photo carefully for wear and usage. This item came from a local estate sale and was in the previous owner's home office for many years. Send me a message if you have questions or would like additional photos.
