
John Irving's 'Queen Esther' returns readers to setting of 'The Cider House Rules'
Simon & Schuster announced Thursday that Irving's 'Queen Esther' will be published Nov. 4. His novel will bring back Dr. Wilbur Larch from 'The Cider House Rules,' but otherwise features 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.
Irving ends the story in Jerusalem, in 1981.
'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 in a statement. '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.'
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.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Mirror
5 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Oscar winner Daniel Kaluuya's absence from spotlight fuels wild rumours
After winning an Oscar for Judas and the Black Messiah, Daniel Kaluuya has retreated from the spotlight, which has led some fans to believe that the star now leads a secret life outside of Hollywood Daniel Kaluuya's career has recently become the subject of wild speculation following his absence from the screen. Since winning the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2021 for Judas and the Black Messiah, the British star has kept a surprisingly low profile in Hollywood blockbusters. When he bagged his Oscar, Kaluuya was reportedly flooded with movie offers - but he has since stayed clear from appearing on screen. However, this had ultimately led to wild rumours emerging online, particularly after a social media post claimed he'd 'joined a cult.' The post blew up with over 24 million views before being pulled, which had ignited an old story dating back to the filming of Nope. At that time, US media outlets linked Kaluuya to a New Age figure named Vanylla Salimah Mahmoud, also known as Heir Holiness, who described herself as his spiritual adviser and once said she was his manager. Reports said Kaluuya had ended his relationship with his previous agency and publicists amid concerns about Mahmoud's influence. However, a Hollywood executive close to the actor said Kaluuya hasn't disappeared but is simply following his own path, focusing on smaller films, writing, and producing rather than mainstream blockbusters. Currently, Kaluuya is involved in the upcoming Spider-Verse animated film and is developing a live-action movie based on the children's character Barney. He is now represented by the William Morris Endeavor agency and has several projects underway through his production company, 59%. Raised on a council estate in north London by his Ugandan single mother, Kaluuya began his career in British television before gaining international recognition with Jordan Peele's 2017 film Get Out, which earned him Oscar and BAFTA nominations. When asked about the cult rumours in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Kaluuya said: 'It showed me that I was in a paradigm of fame. An unnamed, unverified source has more credibility than what is actually said and the truth of the situation... That's not what happened.' Heir Holiness also denied the cult allegations, calling Kaluuya 'family' and saying, 'They made it up. It was very shocking... My main thing was to make sure he's safe and able to do his work. All of it is fake.' Born in London in 1989 to Ugandan parents, the actor grew up on a Camden council estate. He attended Torriano Primary School, St Aloysius' College, and Camden School for Girls in its co-educational sixth-form for his A-levels. From a young age, he had a passion for acting, writing his first play at nine and studying the art at the Anna Scher Theatre School. Kaluuya began acting professionally in 2006, gaining early fame for his role as Posh Kenneth in Skins and appearing in shows like Doctor Who and Silent Witness before breaking into film.


Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Simon Cowell wanted to join Channel 4 reality show but backed out over health warning, says pal
Singer who has grown close to Simon warned him off the idea SI'S HUSTLE Simon Cowell wanted to join Channel 4 reality show but backed out over health warning, says pal Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DON'T let the high-waisted jeans, tinted specs or luxury lifestyle fool you – Simon Cowell reckons he's a real tough guy at heart. In fact, the music mogul even considered signing up for Channel 4's extreme challenge show, SAS: Who Dares Wins, according to his pal Lucy Spraggan. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 7 Lucy Spraggan has signed up to SAS: Who Dares Wins Credit: Pete Dadds / Channel 4 7 Show line-up from left to right: Bimini, Chloe Burrows, Adam Collard, Lady Leshurr, Conor Benn, Hannah Spearitt, Troy Deeney, Tasha Ghouri, Harry Clark, Rebecca Loos, Louie Spence, Michaella McCollum, Adebayo Akinfenwa and Lucy Spraggan Credit: Pete Dadds / Channel 4 Singer Lucy, who has grown close to Simon since starring on The X Factor in 2012, warned him off the idea — then joined the line-up herself. She said: 'He thought it was a great idea, me doing the show. 'He knows I love being outdoors. We do a lot of shooting air rifles and stuff together, so he knows this is my thing, testing my mental resilience. 'It was just funny because he had said, 'Oh, maybe I'll try and have a go at it'. 'I was like, 'Simon, you would literally die!'. It was funny because it really contextualised how hard it was that I just straight away said to him, 'You would have no chance'. 'But Lauren [Silverman, Cowell's wife], I said to her at dinner the other day, 'You should have a go'. She could do it, it would be funny.' Simon, right, and Lucy have become such good pals, he walked her down the aisle at her wedding to Emilia Smith last summer. The new series of SAS: Who Dares Wins, which begins next Sunday at 9pm, sees Simon dial in to give Lucy a pep talk — but it doesn't end well. She said: 'The DS [directing staff] hung up on him and he was like, 'I've never been so angry'.' Lucy's not the only celebrity recruit with reality TV experience. Simon Cowell set to launch ANOTHER TV talent contest amid 'huge excitement' around his Netflix boyband search show But ex-military man and winner of The Traitors, Harry Clark, seems to have his shows mixed up, as he is rumbled cheating in physical tasks. Lead instructor Billy Billingham rages: 'His integrity and honesty stinks, he's playing us.' Harry said: 'That's when I was the most scared. I was like, 'I've let the Army down. I've definitely let every-one at home down, and I've let myself down'. 'But I was in so much pain with my body and my feet. I remember my big toe, it was infected.' Apart from the shame, Harry wasn't phased being bawled at by instructors. He said: 'That didn't really bother me. I was in the Army since I was 16, so it wasn't really any different.' Perhaps Simon thought the same after all those X Factor bootcamps. 7 Simon Cowell considered signing up for Channel 4's extreme challenge show Credit: Rex LOUIE IN PORNO FANTASY 7 Louie Spence reveals why he couldn't take the former special forces soldiers seriously Credit: Pete Dadds / Channel 4 LOUIE SPENCE lasted less than 24 hours on the course – but it wasn't the hard graft that put him off. The former dancer reveals he couldn't take the former special forces soldiers seriously because he felt like he was in a gay porn movie. Louie, who battled to keep a straight face, said: 'I'm sorry, I couldn't get it out of my mind – as soon as I had to put this hood on and could see these black boots walking along, before they pull that hood off and say: 'What's your name?' 'I was thinking, God, this is like a gay fantasy porno. It's like you're in the Army now, you've been a naughty boy. 'I couldn't get it out of my mind, just expecting the DS to strip. I thought, 'This isn't good'.' ALL GO, CHLOE 7 Former Love Island bombshell Chloe Burrows Credit: Pete Dadds / Channel 4 SHE'S taken on her fair share of reality shows, but nothing could have prepared Chloe Burrows for her SAS stint. The former Love Island bombshell thought she'd get a break from the gruelling regime during filming so was stunned to discover it's so full-on, they have medics on stand-by. Chloe said: 'We had the meeting before and it was like, 'Yeah, there's going to be an ambulance crew within a kilometre, they've dealt with saving lives'. And I was thinking, 'Oh, my God . . . '. I did go in a bit naive. 'It was a complete culture shock. I've worked on other shows before . . . you do get a bit of respite. 'Even when I've done Scared Of The Dark, and Inside, where you are filmed 24/7, you do get a little bit of relaxing time – you know, a bit of a moment to yourself. 'But there was no break. Like, honestly, you were on, on, on all day. It was a lot, to be honest.' WHAT A GAS, MIC 7 Michaella McCollum took on the dreaded gas chamber challenge Credit: Pete Dadds / Channel 4 AFTER taking on the dreaded gas chamber challenge, Michaella McCollum reckons she would be up for more of the same. The single mum who got jailed in Peru for smuggling cocaine, was meant to rescue a hostage trapped inside, and saved herself instead. But she said: 'You know what, I would probably do that one again even though I messed it up. 'I got the hostage to the window and then I jumped out the window. [DS] Foxy was like, 'What the f*** are you doing? Your job is to save the hostage and then yourself.' 'The gas was awful. You cannot breathe. Your eyes are exploding. "There's just snot coming from your nose, your eyes, everything. You feel like you're dying. It's horrific. 'But if we had to do that challenge again, I'd have done it and saved the hostage.' BOXER Conor Benn and ex-footballer Troy Deeney were left battered and bruised – to the horror of their wives. The pair, above, had to fight each other during the course and were roughed up from other challenges, too. 7 Boxer Conor Benn and ex-footballer Troy Deeney Credit: Pete Dadds / Channel 4 For one test, Conor had to jump backward off a viaduct in the Welsh hills but his harness was so tight he was left squirming. 'I lost my left testicle,' he joked. 'I'm still looking for it, which is not very good seeing as my missus wants more kids. ' I don't know how much luck we'll have with that now. 'That was more painful than being punched in the head for a living.' Meanwhile Troy sported his injuries as he wed partner Alisha after returning from filming. He said: 'She wasn't too happy I turned up with a black eye.' HARDMAN Chief Instructor Billy Billingham reckons the show will be a wake-up for the celebrities. He said: 'With the world being as unstable as it is, we may all be called to the battlefield, to defend. "These celebrities are going to get an understanding of what that feels like.' COMPLETING the line-up are former footballer Adebayo Akinfenwa, Love Islanders Tasha Ghouri and Adam Collard, S Club 7's Hannah Spearritt, glamour girl Rebecca Loos, drag queen Bimini and musician Lady Leshurr.


Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Jamie Lee Curtis on why her mother Janet Leigh would've 'been incredibly upset' about her Oscar-winning role
Jamie Lee Curtis calls herself the 'OG nepo baby ' having had a leg up in showbusiness thanks to her famous parents Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis. But the outspoken 66-year-old doesn't think the late Psycho scream queen would've approved of her grittier, unflattering characters like IRS revenue agent Deirdre Beaubeirdre in Everything Everywhere All at Once. 'Today I have a freedom to be myself that my mother's generation would never have allowed,' Jamie revealed in her People cover story Sunday. 'My mother would've been incredibly upset at Everything Everywhere All at Once and how I looked. My mother would have loathed [how I looked].' Curtis continued: 'Her generation was so much about your body and what you look like. And the beauty. The beauty is just who she was. That's what her life was. My mother was literally jaw dropping. But I think that would've been very hard for her to see me with my tummy sticking out.' The Bear actress famously won an Oscar for her performance in Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert's critically-acclaimed multiverse dramedy, which went on to amass $143.4M from a $25M budget in 2022. Jamie also looked rough as Shelly's (Pamela Anderson) hard-living gal pal Annette, a cocktail waitress living in her car, in Gia Coppola's critically-acclaimed 2024 drama The Last Showgirl, which earned $7.1M from a $2M budget. 'Or in Last Showgirl, for [Janet] to see me in that dressing room at 66 years old. That really would've upset her,' Curtis noted. 'I know her very well. I have accepted myself in a much bigger way than I think she felt she was allowed to, through her generation.' The Borderlands actress added: 'I know that my mother was so proud of me and and what I've achieved, that she respected my husband's work and was thrilled to be a grandma.' Leigh passed away, at age 77, in 2004 after a protracted battle with vasculitis while her famous father died, at age 85, in 2010 of cardiac arrest. On Saturday, Jamie - who regrets undergoing a lower blepharoplasty at age 25 - called out the 'genocide of a generation of women by the cosmeceutical industrial complex, who've disfigured themselves.' 'I believe that we have wiped out a generation or two of natural human [appearance],' Curtis told The Guardian. 'The concept that you can alter the way you look through chemicals, surgical procedures, fillers – there's a disfigurement of generations of predominantly women who are altering their appearances. And it is aided and abetted by AI, because now the filter face is what people want. 'I'm not filtered right now. The minute I lay a filter on and you see the before and after, it's hard not to go: "Oh, well that looks better." But what's better? Better is fake.' Curtis continued: 'Her generation was so much about your body and what you look like. And the beauty. The beauty is just who she was. That's what her life was. My mother was literally jaw dropping. But I think that would've been very hard for her to see me with my tummy sticking out' (pictured last Tuesday) The Bear actress also looked rough as Shelly's (R, Pamela Anderson) hard-living gal pal Annette, a cocktail waitress living in her car, in Gia Coppola's critically-acclaimed 2024 drama The Last Showgirl The Borderlands actress told The Guardian: 'I believe that we have wiped out a generation or two of natural human [appearance]. The concept that you can alter the way you look through chemicals, surgical procedures, fillers – there's a disfigurement of generations of predominantly women who are altering their appearances. And it is aided and abetted by AI, because now the filter face is what people want' However, the Halloween alum 'minds her business' when it comes to advising her Freakier Friday onscreen daughter Lindsay Lohan, whose facial features are noticeably more taut than they were seven years ago. Jamie noted: 'I'm bossy, very bossy, but I try to mind my own business. She doesn't need my advice. She's a fully functioning, smart woman, creative person. Privately, she's asked me questions, but nothing that's more than an older friend you might ask.' Curtis and the 39-year-old former child star executive produced and reprised their roles in Nisha Ganatra's mother-daughter swap sequel Freakier Friday, which hits US/UK theaters August 8. It's hard to believe it's been 22 years since the Emmy/Grammy nominee and Lindsay portrayed Tess and Anna Coleman in Mark Waters' critically-acclaimed remake of Freaky Friday, which amassed $160.8M at the global box office. Last Tuesday, Jamie confirmed she'll play mystery novelist Jessica Fletcher in Universal's upcoming reboot of the CBS hit series Murder, She Wrote - which aired for 12 seasons spanning 1984-96. 'Oh, it's… happening,' Curtis told ET. 'We're a minute away, but yeah, [I'm] very excited. Very excited. But I'm tamping down my enthusiasm until we start shooting. I have a couple of other things to hustle, but then I'll get to enjoy that work.' The LA native's other upcoming projects include James L. Brooks' political dramedy Ella McCray for 20th Century Studios, Liz Sarnoff's eight-episode series Scarpetta for Amazon Prime Video, and Russell Goldman's scam psychological horror Sender.