Publisher W.W. Norton has paused the shipping and promotion of Blake Bailey’s Philip Roth: The Biography following accusations of sexual assault against the author, the New York Times reports.
Norton’s decision came after a day of shocking allegations against Bailey, whose book, published two weeks ago, had been one of the most-discussed biographies of the year. The book received a starred review from Kirkus.
Publishing executive Valentina Rice told the Times that Bailey sexually assaulted her in 2015 when they were both guests at the home of Times book critic Dwight Garner. (According to the Times report, Garner was “horrified” to learn of the assault and “added that he and Mr. Bailey do not have a relationship.”) Rice said she emailed Norton President Julia A. Reidhead, using an assumed name, to tell her about the assault, and did not receive a reply. Days later, Bailey emailed Rice, saying Norton had forwarded him her email and that he would “vigorously defend my reputation and livelihood.”
A spokesperson for Norton said the publisher had asked Bailey about the allegation, and he “categorically denied” it.
Bailey has also been accused of sexual assault by a former student at Lusher Middle School in New Orleans, the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate reports.
Eve Crawford Peyton said that Bailey sexually assaulted her in a hotel when she was 22, and had, when she was 16, grabbed her buttocks and said she was “pretty stacked.”
Bailey has denied all the allegations. On Wednesday afternoon, his once-active Twitter account had been deleted.
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
