John Irving’s new novel, ‘Queen Esther,’ touches decades of Israeli history
Book to be released in November tells story of Esther Nacht, Viennese Jew born in 1905 whose life ‘is fated to intersect with Israel’s history’; story closes in Jerusalem, 1981
NEW YORK — In John Irving’s next book, the author is returning to St. Cloud’s, Maine, and to the orphanage made famous in his acclaimed “The Cider House Rules.”
Simon & Schuster announced on Thursday that Irving’s “Queen Esther” will be published on November 4, 2025. His novel will bring back Dr. Wilbur Larch from “The Cider House Rules,” but otherwise feature a new set of characters.
According to Simon & Schuster, “Queen Esther” will span much of the 20th century as it follows the life of Esther Nacht, a Viennese Jew born in 1905, abandoned at age 4 and taken in as a teen by a New England family.
“Esther is born in Vienna in 1905. Anti-Semitism shapes her life, not only in Austria. Esther’s story is fated to intersect with Israel’s history. In the final chapter, set in Jerusalem in 1981, Esther is 76,” the publisher teased in a statement.
“The construction of this novel long predates the events of Oct. 7, and everything that’s happened in Israel since those terrorist attacks and the hostage-taking,” Irving said.
“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.”
John Irving will bring back the character of Wilbur Larch, first introduced in his 1985 novel THE CIDER HOUSE RULES, in a new book coming later this year. Simon & Schuster will publish Irving’s QUEEN ESTHER in November. @simonschuster https://t.co/ngbnRiMfQT pic.twitter.com/HUZ5Il5kGe
— Kirkus Reviews (@KirkusReviews) February 6, 2025
Irving, 82, is also known for such acclaimed works as “The Hotel New Hampshire,” “The World According to Garp” and “A Prayer for Owen Meany.” He published “The Cider House Rules” in 1985 and won an Oscar for writing the screenplay for the 1999 movie adaptation. Michael Caine, who played Dr. Larch, received an Oscar for best supporting actor.
“One of the deepest pleasures of reading John Irving comes from discovering the turns in his story along with his characters, so I will give away no plot details, other than to say this: In ‘Queen Esther,’ John Irving literally takes readers where he’s never taken them before,” Irving’s editor, Simon and Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp, said in a statement.
“The fact that 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.”
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
