John Irving

John Irving

John Irving (John Wallace Blunt Jr.) was born on March 2nd, 1942 and is currently 84 years old. John Irving was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, USA.

John Irving is known for writing in the Historical Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Literary Fiction genres.

John Irving has written 14 standalone novels, starting with Setting Free the Bears in 1968. The most recently released novel was The Last Chairlift, which was released in 2022. There are no upcoming standalone novels by John at this time.

John Irving has also written the Cider House Rules series which has 2 books including The Cider House Rules and Queen Esther.

John Irving: Awards & Accolades

John Irving won the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, Richard C. Holbrooke Distinguished Achievement Award, in 2018.

Irving's books have also won multiple awards, The World According to Garp won the National Book Awards, Best Fiction - Paperback, in 1980. A Widow for One Year won the Audie Award, Best Fiction, in 1999.

John Irving books have also been nominated for multiple awards, The World According to Garp was nominated for the National Book Awards, Best Fiction, in 1979. The Hotel New Hampshire was nominated for the National Book Awards, Best Fiction - Hardcover, in 1982.

John Irving: Lists & Other Mentions

• The Hotel New Hampshire was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1981 and 1982 and a Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 1981.
• The Cider House Rules was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1985.
• A Widow for One Year was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 1998.
• The Fourth Hand was a New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2001.
• The World According to Garp has made several lists including:
  1. NPR: 100 Best Beach Books Selection in 2009.
  2. Modern Library: 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century: Radcliffe's List Selection in 1998.
  3. Modern Library: 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century: Readers' List Selection in 1998.
  4. Amazon US: 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime Selection in 2014.
  5. BBC: The Big Read Selection in 2003.
  6. Entertainment Weekly: Top 100 Novels Selection in 2013.
• A Prayer for Owen Meany has made several lists including:
  1. Modern Library: 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century: Readers' List Selection in 1998.
  2. Waterstones: Books of the Century Selection in 1997.
  3. BBC: Radio Oxford 100 Books You Must Read Before You Die Selection in 2020.
  4. TES Magazine: Teacher's Favourite Books List Selection in 2013.
  5. BBC: The Big Read Selection in 2003.
  6. PBS: The Great American Read Selection in 2018.
  7. Entertainment Weekly: The New Classics - 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008 Selection in 2008.

Related Authors

Fans of John Irving also enjoy these authors:

1. Pip Williams, author of: The Dictionary of Lost Words.
2. Ann Patchett, author of: The Dutch House.
3. Mark Twain, author of the Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn Series.
4. Amy Tan, author of: The Joy Luck Club.
5. Elizabeth Berg, author of the Mason Series.
6. Pat Conroy, author of: The Prince of Tides.
7. Elif Shafak, author of: The Island of Missing Trees.
8. Abraham Verghese, author of: Cutting for Stone.
9. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of: Eat, Pray, Love.
10. Alice Walker, author of the Color Purple Series.

John Irving: F.A.Q