PHILIP M. ROTH 1933-2018<\/strong>
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\nNewark Public Library mourns the loss of Philip Roth, acclaimed American author and lifelong friend and supporter of the Newark Public Library.<\/p>\n

Mr. Roth had a strong personal connection to the Newark Public Library. It played a significant role when he was growing up in the Weequahic community of Newark. He describes himself at that time as, \u201ca library-intoxicated\u201d young\u00a0man whose interest in reading and writing was formed\u00a0at the Library. During his college years at Rutgers, Mr. Roth referred to the Library as his \u201cother Newark home.\u00a0My first other home.\u201d The protagonist of his first novel, \u201cGoodbye Columbus,\u201d worked at the Library, and Mr. Roth conducted extensive research for his celebrated \u201cAmerican Trilogy\u201d in the Library\u2019s New Jersey Room.<\/p>\n

In 2013 the Newark Public Library celebrated Mr. Roth\u2019s 80th birthday with the extensive exhibit, Philip Roth: Photos from a Lifetime. The exhibit displayed his contributions to literature and his close relationship with the City of Newark.<\/p>\n

In 2016, Mr. Roth bequeathed his entire personal collection of over 3,500 books to the Newark Public Library. That same year, the Library created the Philip Roth Lecture Series to honor Mr. Roth and his contributions to the Library and to Newark. It was also designed to showcase great writers currently at work and inspire the next generation of young readers and writers.<\/p>\n

Philip Roth\u2019s passing is a painful loss to the Newark Public Library, to the city of Newark, and to the world of literature.<\/p>\n

To download the\u00a0NPL statement, please click here:\u00a0\u00a0NPL – P Roth Statement 5.23.18 Final<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PHILIP M. ROTH 1933-2018 Newark Public Library mourns the loss of Philip Roth, acclaimed American author and lifelong friend and supporter of the Newark Public Library. Mr. Roth had a strong personal connection to the Newark Public Library. It played a significant role when he was growing up in the Weequahic community of Newark. He… <\/p>\n