John Irving
John Irving
b. 2 march 1942- Books
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About
John Irving was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, in 1942. His first novel, Setting Free the Bears, was published in 1968, when he was twenty-six. He competed as a wrestler for twenty years, and coached wrestling until he was forty-seven.
Mr. Irving has been nominated for a National Book Award three times—winning once, in 1980, for his novel The World According to Garp. He received an O. Henry Award in 1981 for his short story “Interior Space.” In 2000, Mr. Irving won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Cider House Rules. In 2013, he won a Lambda Literary Award for his novel In One Person.
An international writer—his novels have been translated into more than thirty-five languages—John Irving lives in Toronto. His all-time best-selling novel, in every language, is A Prayer for Owen Meany.
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John Irving is widely recognized for his distinctive blend of literary fiction, often featuring eccentric characters, dark humor, and themes of wrestling, New England, and Vienna. His novels frequently explore complex family dynamics and societal issues.
Several of John Irving's novels have been adapted into films, including "The World According to Garp," "The Hotel New Hampshire," and "The Cider House Rules," for which he also wrote the Academy Award-winning screenplay.
For readers new to John Irving, "The World According to Garp" is often recommended as an excellent starting point, showcasing many of his signature themes and narrative styles. "A Prayer for Owen Meany" is another popular entry point.