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Contemporary Fiction

American Pastoral

Philip Roth
1 min read·eng. American Pastoral · 1997
Summary by the Litseller editorial team.·Date of publication: 30 July 2024·Updated: 14 November 2026
Interesting Facts

Interesting Facts

  • The book won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1998.
  • The main character, Seymour Levov, nicknamed "Swede," is a successful businessman and former athlete.
  • The plot unfolds against the backdrop of social and political upheavals in America during the 1960s and 1970s.
  • One of the central themes of the book is the collapse of the American Dream.
  • The protagonist's daughter, Merry, becomes a radical activist and commits a terrorist act, leading to the family's disintegration.
  • The book explores themes of identity, legacy, and moral responsibility.
American Pastoral
Date of publication: 30 July 2024
Updated: 14 November 2026
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Author: 
Philip Roth
Original title: eng. American Pastoral · 1997
Content: 
Prepared by the Litseller editorial team. Our goal is to share concise, accurate, and valuable book notes for personal growth and education.
Reviewed by the Litseller editorial team before publication, and checked against the book itself. Editorial policy
This material is prepared for educational purposes and is not a reproduction of the original text. We do not use protected elements of the work (text, structure, unique scenes).
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