Tag Archives: Autobiography

1994: An Insane Premise

In an afterword to the 25th anniversary edition of Portnoy’s Complaint, Philip Roth tells a story about the first lines of his novels. When he was living in Chicago in the late 1950’s, he says, he once went to a … Continue reading

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1964: Bastard

Women cheat, women suffer. They used to be attractive—so they smooth away their age. I shout mine aloud because I was never attractive, because I shall always have my baby hair. It’s taken me two and a half hours to … Continue reading

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1902: I Have in Me a Quite Unusual Intensity of Life

The opening of The Story of Mary MacLane: Butte, Montana January 13, 1901 I of womankind and of nineteen years, will now begin to set down as full and frank a Portrayal as I am able of myself, Mary Mac … Continue reading

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