Henry Roth Book order

Set against the backdrop of New York's Jewish Harlem in 1914, the narrative follows Ira Stigman as he navigates the challenges of his family's recent move. The novel explores themes of identity and belonging during a tumultuous period, reflecting on the complexities of immigrant life. Inspired by Shakespeare, the story delves into the personal and cultural struggles faced by Ira, offering a rich tapestry of experiences that resonate with the struggles of many. This work marks a significant return for Henry Roth after decades away from the literary scene.

Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, this literary novel explores themes of American identity and love through the eyes of Henry Roth. It serves as an autobiographical conclusion to Roth's saga, following the acclaimed "Call It Sleep." The narrative unfolds in contrasting settings, from New York's skyscrapers to Los Angeles's motor courts, capturing the era's complexities. With influences from Nathanael West and John Steinbeck, it stands as a poignant reflection on the human experience and the enduring quest for connection.

Ira Stigman's polarised life has never been more difficult. On one side is Edith Welles, his supporter, friend and lover; she believes in him. On the other is his shameful immigrant origins, his poverty, his family with their arguments and lack of sophistication. Then there is his incestuous relations with his sister and his cousin, who may be pregnant. This fourth and final volume, published posthumously, brings to a close one of America's most extraordinary literary odysseys.

A boy contemplates suicide from a diving rock on the Hudson River after being expelled from school for stealing. Ira Stigman has squandered years of sacrifice by his parents, poor Jewish immigrants. Instead of ending his life, however, he decides to start anew, enrolls in another school and goes to university. The setting is New York in the 1920s

When Henry Roth published his debut novel Call It Sleep in 1934, it was greeted with considerable critical acclaim though, in those troubled times, lackluster sales. Only with its paperback publication thirty years later did this novel receive the recognition it deserves --and still enjoys. Having sold-to-date millions of copies worldwide," Call It Sleep" is the magnificent story of David Schearl, the " dangerously imaginative" child coming of age in the slums of New York.