Steve Sampson's Parodic Analysis of Philip Roth's Work

Steve Sampson's "Corpus Rothi," released by Éditions Léo Scheer, presents a satirical theological interpretation of Philip Roth's literature, portraying him as a Christ-like figure who suffers at the hands of his audience. The text delves into themes of Jewish infertility, asserting, "The Jew is called to be re-circumcised. The second time, it's called a crucifixion." Through sixteen chapters, including "Phallus ex machina," Sampson wittily examines the phallus as a mark of stigma in Roth's works, referencing elements like the Easter egg in "Goodbye, Columbus" and the Trinity in "The Professor of Desire." He posits that Roth's protagonists are incapable of fertilization, emphasizing impotence in "Cafter Kafka." The book is a complex psychoanalytic exploration reviewed by Stéphan Lévy-Kuentz.