About the book
The groundbreaking novel from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of American Pastoral that originally propelled its author to literary stardom: told in a continuous monologue from patient to psychoanalyst, this masterpiece draws us into the turbulent mind of one lust-ridden young Jewish bachelor named Alexander Portnoy.
One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years
“Deliciously funny . . . absurd and exuberant, wild and uproarious . . . a brilliantly vivid reading experience”—The New York Times Book Review
“Touching as well as hilariously lewd . . . Roth is vibrantly talented”—New York Review of Books
Portnoy's Complaint n. [after Alexander Portnoy (1933- )] A disorder in which strongly-felt ethical and altruistic impulses are perpetually warring with extreme sexual longings, often of a perverse nature. Spielvogel says: 'Acts of exhibitionism, voyeurism, fetishism, auto-eroticism and oral coitus are plentiful; as a consequence of the patient's \"morality,\" however, neither fantasy nor act issues in genuine sexual gratification, but rather in overriding feelings of shame and the dread of retribution, particularly in the form of castration.' (Spielvogel, O. \"The Puzzled Penis,\" Internationale Zeitschrift für Psychoanalyse, Vol. XXIV, p. 909.) It is believed by Spielvogel that many of the symptoms can be traced to the bonds obtaining in the mother-child relationship.
Editions of Portnoy's Complaint
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780224616522
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780394441986
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780394608105
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780449202913
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780679756453
- AltFormat
- ISBN 9780375507939
- EBook
- ISBN 9780307744050
Read an Excerpt
The groundbreaking novel from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of American Pastoral that originally propelled its author to literary stardom: told in a continuous monologue from patient to psychoanalyst, this masterpiece draws us into the turbulent mind of one lust-ridden young Jewish bachelor named Alexander Portnoy.
One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years
“Deliciously funny . . . absurd and exuberant, wild and uproarious . . . a brilliantly vivid reading experience”—The New York Times Book Review
“Touching as well as hilariously lewd . . . Roth is vibrantly talented”—New York Review of Books
Portnoy's Complaint n. [after Alexander Portnoy (1933- )] A disorder in which strongly-felt ethical and altruistic impulses are perpetually warring with extreme sexual longings, often of a perverse nature. Spielvogel says: 'Acts of exhibitionism, voyeurism, fetishism, auto-eroticism and oral coitus are plentiful; as a consequence of the patient's \"morality,\" however, neither fantasy nor act issues in genuine sexual gratification, but rather in overriding feelings of shame and the dread of retribution, particularly in the form of castration.' (Spielvogel, O. \"The Puzzled Penis,\" Internationale Zeitschrift für Psychoanalyse, Vol. XXIV, p. 909.) It is believed by Spielvogel that many of the symptoms can be traced to the bonds obtaining in the mother-child relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Portnoy's Complaint about?
The groundbreaking novel from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of American Pastoral that originally propelled its author to literary stardom: told in a continuous monologue from patient to psychoanalyst, this masterpiece draws us into the turbulent mind of one lust-ridden young Jewish bachelor named Alexander Portnoy.
One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years
“Deliciously funny . . . absurd and exuberant, wild and uproarious . . . a brilliantly vivid reading experience”—The New York Times Book Review
“Touching as well as hilariously lewd . . . Roth is vibrantly talented”—New York Review of Books
Portnoy's Complaint n. [after Alexander Portnoy (1933- )] A disorder in which strongly-felt ethical and altruistic impulses are perpetually warring with extreme sexual longings, often of a perverse nature. Spielvogel says: 'Acts of exhibitionism, voyeurism, fetishism, auto-eroticism and oral coitus are plentiful; as a consequence of the patient's \"morality,\" however, neither fantasy nor act issues in genuine sexual gratification, but rather in overriding feelings of shame and the dread of retribution, particularly in the form of castration.' (Spielvogel, O. \"The Puzzled Penis,\" Internationale Zeitschrift für Psychoanalyse, Vol. XXIV, p. 909.) It is believed by Spielvogel that many of the symptoms can be traced to the bonds obtaining in the mother-child relationship.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Portnoy's Complaint?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre
Where can I read a sample of Portnoy's Complaint?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780224616522
Is Portnoy's Complaint part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Vintage International
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Portnoy's Complaint?
Philip Roth
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Portnoy's Complaint is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780224616522) and hardcover(ISBN 9780394441986) and hardcover(ISBN 9780394608105) and paperback(ISBN 9780449202913) and paperback(ISBN 9780679756453) and altformat(ISBN 9780375507939) and ebook(ISBN 9780307744050)
Where can I buy Portnoy's Complaint online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Portnoy's Complaint from below
Where can I buy Portnoy's Complaint?