UNDER more ordinary circumstances, last week’s announcement that Philip Roth had won the Man Booker International prize would have been met with polite indifference, as befitting the non-news of a renowned author being granted a literary award. That Mr Roth was a serious contender seemed to catch nobody by surprise—except, perhaps, Carmen Callil (pictured), one of the three judges, who very publicly quit after the announcement of the winner was made. Ms Callil’s initial comments were what set a minor controversy in motion, especially her rather bold statement that she did not “rate him as a writer at all.” She also prompted a few titters when she explained her exasperation and impatience with Mr Roth’s preoccupations by using a Rothian image if there ever was one: “It's as though he's sitting on your face and you can't breathe.”