From Wikipedia:
On September 7, 2012, Roth wrote an open letter to Wikipedia in the The New Yorker in which he dismissed critics' earlier suggestions that his novel was inspired by Anatole Broyard.[13] He said that he had used an incident in the life of his friend, Melvin Tumin, professor of sociology at Princeton, and created everything else about his character, Coleman Silk. Roth used details from Tumin's experience in the events that led to Silk's resigning from the college.[13] Roth acknowledged that he had met Broyard, but wrote that he barely knew him.[13] He said, "I’ve never known, spoken to, or, to my knowledge, been in the company of a single member of Broyard’s family. I did not even know whether he had children."[13]
Bliss Broyard, the daughter of Anatole Broyard, posted a response on Facebook:
"I think it’s completely reasonable that Roth should be allowed to have the last word on who inspires his characters and even obfuscate about the sources if he wants to… BUT I don’t think it’s reasonable that Roth gets to dictate what conclusions other people draw about his characters, which is effectively what he was trying to do with his objection to Wikipedia’s description of the book as 'allegedly' having been inspired by my dad."[14]
She said her father had introduced her to Roth at a literary party when she was 22:
" 'Bliss,' my father said, rather pompously, 'this is one of our most important American novelists.' He [Roth] turned to regard me. 'So lithe and pale,' he pronounced. 'Like a ghost.' It was a brief encounter—one I’m not surprised that he might have forgotten—but I am sure you all can understand why I haven’t."[14]
On September 7, 2012, Roth wrote an open letter to Wikipedia in the The New Yorker in which he dismissed critics' earlier suggestions that his novel was inspired by Anatole Broyard.[13] He said that he had used an incident in the life of his friend, Melvin Tumin, professor of sociology at Princeton, and created everything else about his character, Coleman Silk. Roth used details from Tumin's experience in the events that led to Silk's resigning from the college.[13] Roth acknowledged that he had met Broyard, but wrote that he barely knew him.[13] He said, "I’ve never known, spoken to, or, to my knowledge, been in the company of a single member of Broyard’s family. I did not even know whether he had children."[13]
Bliss Broyard, the daughter of Anatole Broyard, posted a response on Facebook:
"I think it’s completely reasonable that Roth should be allowed to have the last word on who inspires his characters and even obfuscate about the sources if he wants to… BUT I don’t think it’s reasonable that Roth gets to dictate what conclusions other people draw about his characters, which is effectively what he was trying to do with his objection to Wikipedia’s description of the book as 'allegedly' having been inspired by my dad."[14]
She said her father had introduced her to Roth at a literary party when she was 22:
" 'Bliss,' my father said, rather pompously, 'this is one of our most important American novelists.' He [Roth] turned to regard me. 'So lithe and pale,' he pronounced. 'Like a ghost.' It was a brief encounter—one I’m not surprised that he might have forgotten—but I am sure you all can understand why I haven’t."[14]