Acclaimed novelist Philip Roth, whose novels examined sex, masculinity and what it means to be American, died on Tuesday. He was 85.
The author won two National Book Awards, two National Book Critics Circle awards, three PEN/Faulkner Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Man Booker International Prize during his lengthy career after first gaining widespread recognition in 1969 for “Portnoy’s Complaint.”
His death was confirmed by close friend Judith Thurman, The New York Times reported.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Roth (above, receiving the National Humanities Medal from President Obama in 2011) was known for his dark comedy, often mixed with blunt explorations of relationships, and for his explorations into Jewish life in the United States.
Roth won the Pulitzer Prize in 1998 for his novel “American Pastoral,” which was included in Time’s List of the 100 Best Novels. It was later adapted into a movie directed by Ewan McGregor, who starred alongside Jennifer Connelly and Dakota Fanning.
Over the course of his career, the author wrote over 25 novels and created his famous alter ego, Nathan Zuckerman.
Later in his life, Roth produced some of his best work, including “The Human Stain,” “I Married a Communist” and “Everyman.”