Wrestling’s a major theme in John Irving’s newest book
I’m fortunate enough to occasionally receive uncorrected advance reader’s editions of soon-to-be published novels. These can have errors and typos, but generally they’re 99% ready for print.
One of this summer’s highlights was receiving an advance edition of Queen Esther from the highly acclaimed American-Canadian novelist and screenwriter John Irving. His upcoming book, which will be published by Simon & Schuster and comes out Nov. 4, is a historical fiction novel with his usual New England setting, and a main character who wrestles in high school, then continues with the sport after graduation while pursuing a career in writing.
There’s a reappearance of Dr. Larch and the orphanage in St. Cloud’s, Maine—but a younger Larch, at an earlier time than readers or moviegoers familiar with “The Cider House Rules” will remember. Another memorable setting is a wrestling gym in early ’60s Vienna, with an international mix of wrestlers.
“I took some liberties with the actual wrestling gym I knew in Vienna, in terms of its location in the city,” said Irving about one of the story’s prominent settings. “My regular workout partners were an Israeli and a Soviet.”
The book moves through several decades with a final chapter in early ’80s Jerusalem, which is where the story ends.
“I took similar liberties with the actual counterparts to the Israelis and European Jews I knew in Jerusalem in 1981; historical fiction must be true to life without exposing your real-life friends and acquaintances. Or at least this is my hope, and my intention.”
Irving’s been busy with preparations for the release of “Queen Esther.”
“I’ve got a ton of interviews upcoming,” said Irving. “I’ve just finished a three-hour interview with Publishers Weekly for a profile they’re running before publication. I also have a New York Times Style interviewer coming to Toronto. This is separate from a review in the daily New York Times, or a review in the New York Times Book Review.”
JOHN IRVING author of “Queen Esther.”
Irving was raised in New Hampshire and grew up skiing. He won an Academy Award for “The Cider House Rules” in 1999, for best-adapted screenplay. He now lives and writes in Toronto. “Queen Esther” is his 16th published novel.
Irving was a wrestler in his youth, and this oldest of sports surfaces in many of his books, most notably “The World According to Garp,” and “The Last Chairlift.” His article “Gorgeous Dan” about Iowa Hawkeye wrestling legend Dan Gable appeared in the April, 1973 issue of Esquire and is still considered one of the greatest essays on the sport. Irving continued wrestling past the age most people accept that it’s time to stop. It’s this intensity and unwillingness to quit that comes out in his writing.
“I have osteoarthritis in my fingers—mostly precipitated by wrestling injuries: broken fingers and torn flexor tendons,” said Irving. “Wrestlers have to accept, if not embrace, the consequences of repeated injuries. ”
John Irving has been nominated for the National Book Award three times, and won it in 1980 for “The World According to Garp.” His novels champion both feminism and masculinity while exploring themes of sexual politics and family identity. His characters are never predictable, nor are they ever perfect. It’s difficult to close an Irving book once that opening chapter is read.
“Queen Esther” is drawing good attention, but I’m already tired of talking about writing—I would prefer to be writing.”
“Queen Esther” is typical Irving, and it’s amazing how he continues to produce fresh reads after 60 years of writing. He is this era’s Charles Dickens.
By Jim Kalin
Category: Entertainment
