Queen Esther: A Novel

Synopsis

After forty years, John Irving returns to the world of his bestselling classic novel and Academy Award–winning film, The Cider House Rules, revisiting the orphanage in St. Cloud&’s, Maine, where Dr. Wilbur Larch takes in Esther—a Viennese-born Jew whose life is shaped by anti-Semitism.Esther Nacht is born in Vienna in 1905. Her father dies on board the ship to Portland, Maine; her mother is murdered by anti-Semites in Portland. Dr. Larch knows it won&’t be easy to find a Jewish family to adopt Esther; in fact, he won&’t find any family who&’ll adopt her. When Esther is fourteen, soon to be a ward of the state, Dr. Larch meets the Winslows, a philanthropic New England family with a history of providing foster care for unadopted orphans. The Winslows aren&’t Jewish, but they despise anti-Semitism. Esther&’s gratitude for the Winslows is unending; even as she retraces her roots back to Vienna, she never stops loving and protecting the Winslows. In the final chapter, set in Jerusalem in 1981, Esther Nacht is seventy-six. John Irving&’s sixteenth novel is a testament to his enduring ability to weave complex characters and intricate narratives that challenge and captivate. Queen Esther is not just a story of survival but a profound exploration of identity, belonging, and the enduring impact of history on our personal lives showcasing why Irving remains one of the world&’s most beloved, provocative, and entertaining authors—a storyteller of our time and for all time.

Copyright:

2025

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

Book Size:

432 Pages

ISBN-13:

9781501189463

Related ISBNs:

9781501189449

Publisher:

Simon & Schuster

Date of Addition:

11/04/25

Copyrighted By:

Garp Enterprises, Ltd.

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Literature and Fiction, Politics and Government

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.