Renowned author John Irving returns to familiar grounds with his upcoming novel, Queen Esther, set to captivate readers with its release on November 4th. This highly anticipated book takes us back to St. Cloud's, Maine, and the orphanage that became legendary through Irving’s masterpiece, The Cider House Rules. Simon & Schuster, the publishing powerhouse, has revealed that Irving's Queen Esther will feature Dr. Wilbur Larch, known from the earlier novel, but most of the narrative centers around a new ensemble of intriguing characters.
The tale of Queen Esther spans a transformative period in history, following the journey of Esther Nacht, a Viennese Jew born in 1905. Abandoned at a tender age, Esther's life takes a dramatic turn when she is taken in by a family in New England. Through Esther’s eyes, readers traverse the 20th century's complex landscape, ending the poignant narrative in 1981 Jerusalem. Irving's profound statement about the novel's origins highlights that it precedes recent events, yet offers compelling historical insights. He remarks, With hindsight, it’s easy to say that what I saw and heard in Israel in the early 1980s serves as a precursor to what has developed since that time, but this is what historical fiction is for.
At 82, John Irving's storytelling prowess remains unmatched. Readers cherish Irving for his ability to blend the intricacy of human emotions with broader historical contexts, as displayed in classics like The Hotel New Hampshire, The World According to Garp, and A Prayer for Owen Meany. The Cider House Rules, released in 1985, is among his most celebrated works, earning Irving an Oscar for its screenplay adaptation. The film’s success was further highlighted when Michael Caine, portraying Dr. Larch, clinched an Oscar for best supporting actor.
Jonathan Karp, CEO of Simon & Schuster and Irving’s editor, expressed his admiration for the author’s continued innovation, noting that, One of the deepest pleasures of reading John Irving comes from discovering the turns in his story along with his characters. Karp enthusiastically describes Queen Esther as a breakthrough in Irving’s literary journey, emphasizing, John is still breaking new artistic ground in his 80s and doing so with such audacious and impeccably crafted storytelling, is yet another reason why he is one of the world’s greatest writers.
This latest novel promises to take readers on an unprecedented journey, backed by Irving’s acclaimed narrative style. As anticipation builds, fans and new readers alike prepare to delve into Queen Esther, eager to explore the depths of Irving's literary imagination set against the historical backdrops that have become his signature.
