Queen Esther

By John Irving

Book Overview

"Few skewer sanctimony quite like Irving at his best. More important: I fell in love, once again, with his people." --Peter Orner, The New York Times Book Review

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.

"A story that's unmistakably Irving--amiably peopled, compellingly plotted and, above all, compassionate for its characters" (NPR).

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.

Not just a story of survival, but a profound exploration of coming of age, identity, belonging, and the enduring impact of history on our personal lives, Queen Esther "is richly textured with unforgettable characters, vivid settings, and familial love that will stay with you long after you put the book down" (The Jewish Book Council), showcasing why Irving remains one of the world's most beloved, provocative, and entertaining authors--a storyteller of our time and for all time.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1501189441
• ISBN13: 9781501189449
• Release Date: November 2025
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.7" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

was excited but oh so disappointed DNF

I was very excited to hear about John Irving's new book . I learned about it from a shout out, author John Boyne gave in an interview. He was about to read it. I loved Irvings early character driving books, ...Garp, Hotel..., Cider..., and my favorite , A Prayer for Owen Meany. I had read a few other of his later novels but did not enjoy them as much. I sort of forgot about him. I understood he was returning to a previous character, Dr. Larch and place ,St Cloud's from Cider House Rules, so I was interested enough to grab the latest, Queen Ester. I really tried to read it. I have a generous 75 page rule, if a book does not hold me at that point, I give up. I gave this book double that and bailed. Irving introduced characters and then deviated from their development , to a history tangent of various subjects that could have been introduced without beating the reader over the head with each one. I am giving it 2 stars only because if you rate something 1 star, the banner reads I Hated It . Hate is too strong of a word. We need to choose our words carefully, so the 2 star I didn't like it, fits.

Not interested in subject matter.

I finished reading the whole book and was not moved by it. The subject matter I didn't like and there really wasn't a good reason for its story. No good feeling personally at the end and very weak conclusion.