Judy Woodruff:

Finally tonight, we remember the prolific writer and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Philip Roth.

He died yesterday of congestive heart failure at the age of 85. Roth was the author of more than 25 books, and a giant in American literature. His work evolved through several distinct phases, and often featured Roth's fictional alter egos, including his best-known character, Nathan Zuckerman.

The 1969 novel "Portnoy's Complaint" rocketed him to fame for its raunchy, hilarious depiction of a teenage boy's lustful urges and ensuing guilt. Roth would later focus more deeply on Jewish life, mortality, and American history, often setting his novels in Newark, New Jersey, where Roth grew up.

During a particularly fruitful period in his 60s, Roth returned to a number of those themes. The accolades and the novels came quickly, including "American Pastoral," "I Married a Communist," and "The Plot Against America."

In a moment, William Brangham talks with a colleague and collaborator of Roth's.

But, first, how Roth himself saw his work.

Jeffrey Brown had the chance to sit down with him for a rare interview back in 2004.

Here are some excerpts.