Portnoy's Complaint is a novel by Philip Roth, published in 1969. It is a highly controversial and explicit work that deals with themes of sexuality, identity, and Jewish-American culture.
The novel is written in the form of a monologue by its protagonist, Alexander Portnoy, a young man struggling to come to terms with his sexual desires and his cultural and family obligations. Portnoy is a deeply conflicted and troubled character, who is torn between his desire for sexual freedom and his feelings of guilt and shame about his desires.
Throughout the novel, Portnoy engages in a series of sexually charged and often humorous vignettes, as he grapples with his relationships with women, his parents, and his own sense of self. The novel is notable for its frank and candid portrayal of sexuality, and its often irreverent and satirical tone.
Portnoy's Complaint was a best-selling and critically acclaimed novel upon its release, and it helped to establish Roth as a major figure in American literature. However, it was also highly controversial, and was criticized by some for its explicit and graphic content, as well as its portrayal of Jewish-American culture. Despite this, the novel remains a significant and influential work, and is widely considered a classic of modern literature.