Overview

• John Irving’s 16th novel, 'Queen Esther,' will be published by Simon & Schuster on November 4, 2025.
• The book follows Esther Nacht, a Jewish orphan from Vienna, whose life intersects with key historical events, ending in Jerusalem in 1981.
• The novel revisits St. Cloud’s orphanage in Maine, a central location in Irving's acclaimed work 'The Cider House Rules,' but features a new cast of characters.
• Irving emphasizes that the novel’s conception predates recent events in Israel and is rooted in his experiences and observations from the early 1980s.
• At 82, Irving continues to break new creative ground, with his editor praising the novel’s bold storytelling and historical depth.