Between the end of his studies and the publication of his first book in 1959, Roth served two years in the United States Army and then wrote short fiction and criticism for various magazines, including movie reviews for The New Republic.
Entre a fin dos seus estudos e a publicación da súa primeira novela en 1959, Roth serviu dous anos no exército e escribiu contos e críticas para varias revistas, mesmo recensións cinematográficas para The New Republic.