 The second half of the volume consists of essays and introductions by Roth about other authors.Many of the essays were occasioned by the abrupt fame and scrutiny which came to Roth upon the publication of his storm-provoking fourth novel, "Portnoy's Complaint" (1969).In the "Author's Note", Roth writes that the selections in the book "are largely the by-products of getting started as a novelist, and then of taking stock."