Philip Roth’s Newark Still Exists — If You Know Where To Look

The Newark skyline, pictured in March, 2018. Image by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

By Talya Zax May 23, 2018

On Philip Roth’s 80th birthday, a group of the author’s most fervent fans boarded a tour bus in Newark, New Jersey, Roth’s hometown and the site of many of his novels. Stops included Weequahic High, where Roth graduated from High School, and one of Roth’s childhood homes. The tour gathered a far-flung set of Roth devotees, including a graduate student from London, as well as locals more familiar with the sights.

The Forward was there to capture video of the occasion and muse on the ways in which Newark shaped Roth, and vice-versa. Watch more, below.

Talya Zax is the Forward’s opinion editor. Contact her at [email protected] or on Twitter, @TalyaZax.

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