Philip Roth Short Story Collections books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Philip Roth Short Story Collections series?"

"There are two books in the Philip Roth Short Story Collections series, published between 1959 and 1980."

Q: "What is the first book in the Philip Roth Short Story Collections series?"

"The first book in the Philip Roth Short Story Collections series is Goodbye, Columbus and Five Short Stories, published in 1959."

Q: "Is Goodbye, Columbus worth reading if you mainly know Roth for his novels?"

"Yes. The title novella is one of his sharpest pieces of writing about class and Jewish-American social life, and the five accompanying stories all hold up. It is also where most readers first encounter his voice."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Goodbye, Columbus and Five Short Stories	1959	Philip Roth	Buy
2	A Philip Roth Reader	1980	Philip Roth	Buy

Goodbye, Columbus won the National Book Award in 1960 and introduced Roth as a significant new voice in American fiction. The title novella follows a young man from Newark who has a summer romance with a wealthy girl from Short Hills, and the class and cultural tensions that run through their relationship. It is precise and funny and less sentimental than its premise might suggest.

The five stories collected alongside it cover similar territory, Jewish life in Newark and its suburbs, and share the same unsentimental clarity of observation. Roth would not publish another story collection for more than two decades, making these books the primary record of his short fiction.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Philip Roth Short Story Collections series?

There are two books in the Philip Roth Short Story Collections series, published between 1959 and 1980.

What is the first book in the Philip Roth Short Story Collections series?

The first book in the Philip Roth Short Story Collections series is Goodbye, Columbus and Five Short Stories, published in 1959.

Is Goodbye, Columbus worth reading if you mainly know Roth for his novels?

Yes. The title novella is one of his sharpest pieces of writing about class and Jewish-American social life, and the five accompanying stories all hold up. It is also where most readers first encounter his voice.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order