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Publisher halts printing and promotion of Philip Roth biography after its author is accused of rape
Former students of Blake Bailey, author of the highly-anticipated biography, accuse him of misconduct
The publisher of a new, bestselling biography about Philip Roth has temporarily halted the book's shipping and promotion as its author, Blake Bailey, faces allegations of rape and sexual harassment.
Mr Bailey, 57, was chosen by Mr Roth to write his biography in 2012 and it was among the most anticipated and heavily promoted literary biographies in recent years, appearing on the bestseller list of The New York Times this month.
The book charts the life of the literary great, who wrote Portnoy's Complaint and American Pastoral, and picks up on his “breathtaking tastelessness towards women”.
But it is now Mr Bailey in the spotlight, having been accused of grooming his former high school students when he was a teacher and pursuing sexual relationships with them soon after they graduated.
One former student, Eve Peyton, accused him of raping her when she was 22.
He has denied any wrongdoing.
“Mr Bailey has never treated a woman inappropriately and has never forced himself on a woman,” his attorney Billy Gibbens told the Times Picayune/New Orleans Advocate on Tuesday.
But a statement by W.W. Norton & Company, the publisher of the biography said:
"These allegations are serious. In light of them, we have decided to pause the shipping and promotion of Philip Roth: The Biography pending any further information that may emerge."
He has also been dropped by his literary agency, the Story Factory.
Existing copies of the biography remain widely available, including online where the 800-page book ranked at number 20 in Amazon's print bestseller list on Thursday.
Mr Bailey is the author of acclaimed biographies of the authors John Cheever and Richard Yates. He had unlimited access to Mr Roth's papers and spent extensive time with the author, who died in 2018.
The biographer was an English teacher at the Lusher Middle School in New Orleans in the 1990s and numerous former students have spoken out recently, alleging inappropriate and manipulative behaviour at the time and saying he later pursued sexual relationships.
A spokesperson for the Lusher school told the Associated Press that it was not aware of any concerns raised about him.