The author of Philip Roth’s biography, one of the most anticipated books on the US literary scene in 2021, is accused of sexual harassment and the publishing house has decided to suspend its promotion. Several women recently accused the author, Blake Bailey, of harassing or sexually assaulting them: the testimonies against Bailey came from former students of the time when he taught in a New Orleans college in the 90s.
Three women told the newspaper Times-Picayune, in Louisiana, to have remained in contact even as adults with Bailey, who would have taken advantage of the trust established to start sexual adventures. One of them accused him of rape. Other testimonials tell of inappropriate behavior on social networks. His agency, The Story Factory, confirmed to AFP “that it had stopped representing him” immediately after being informed of the allegations against Bailey, starting on Sunday.
Yesterday its publisher, WW Norton, announced that the deliveries of the book, entitled “Philip Roth: The Biography”, published on April 6, would be suspended. “We have decided to suspend deliveries and promotion” of the biography, said a spokesman for the publisher, who called the allegations “serious”, cited by several American media. Yesterday the book was still available on Amazon and sold in the literary criticism category. Bailey, 57, “categorically denied the allegations” against him.
A few days ago Bailey was also dumped by his literary agency, The Story Factory. The writer is the author of various biographies. Roth had chosen him personally after meeting him in 2012, putting an end to a previously signed contract. The New York Times Book Review in particular he described the approximately 900-page work as a “narrative masterpiece.”