Audiobooks Narrated by Philip Roth

Philip Roth Reading from Letting Go: From Great American Authors Read from Their Works, Volume 1

This recording, made early in Roth's career, is drawn from his first novel, Letting Go. Set in the 1950s, it portrays the social constraints of the period as they affect several graduate students at critical points in their lives. The scene Roth reads shows the rather diffident Paul Herz confronted by two of his ancient rooming-house neighbors who have a favor to ask. As the critic John Ciardi wrote, "Three actors with separately trained voices could not have read it better. If Roth were not so good a writer it would be the world's duty to force him onto the stage."

Philip Roth (Author), Philip Roth (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Great American Authors Read From Their Works: Volume 1

Volume 1 contains readings by James Baldwin from Giovanni’s Room and Another Country, exploring the dilemmas of being black and gay in mid-twentieth century America. Willliam Styron reads about a disabled child finding brief moments of joy in Lie Down in Darkness, his novel about a troubled Southern family. James Jones reads the most famous passage from his celebrated World War II novel, From Here to Eternity. And Philip Roth does a hilarious comic turn in a bizarre scene from his early novel, Letting Go.

James Baldwin, James Jones, Philip Roth, William Styron (Author), James Baldwin, James Jones, Philip Roth, William Styron (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free

Great American Authors Read From Their Works: Volume 1, Philip Roth Reading from Letting Go

Playing three parts, Philip Roth gives a hilariously comic performance of two old men living in a cheap rooming house who pay a visit to a diffident graduate student to ask a convoluted and unusual favor. ***This title is presented as an excerpt***

Philip Roth (Author), Philip Roth (Narrator)

Audiobook

Play Sample Listen For Free