Books

Beverly Hills, CA: Twentieth Century-Fox, 1970. Draft script for the 1972 film. An early example of the film's script, still slated to be a Twentieth Century-Fox production, with their imprint on the front wrapper. The fourth Roth novel (after "Goodbye, Columbus" in 1972) to be adapted to the screen, and the sole directorial effort for noted screenwriter Ernest Lehman ("North by Northwest," "The Sweet Smell of Success," "Sabrina," "West Side Story," The Sound of Music," and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"). Alexander Portnoy (Benjamin), sees a therapist and goes on one long tirade after another about his family, his childhood, his sexual fantasies and desires, his problems with women, and his obsession with his own Judaism. Set in New York. Blue titled wrappers. Title page present, dated August 3, 1970, with credits for screenwriter Lehman and novelist Roth. 150 leaves, with last page of text numbered 149. Mechanical duplication on eye-rest green stock. Pages…

Portnoy's Complaint is notable for its explicit and candid treatment of sexuality and for its reflection on Jewish identity in modern America.