Queen Esther

By: John Irving

Narrated by: Ari Fliakos

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.

Classic Irving with a new spin

I imagine this book won’t be for everyone, but if you are an Irving reader you will enjoy and appreciate it. IYKYK.

Getting ready

I love John Irving. I got tired of our characters preparing for some kind of action. I began to count how many times the name Ester was repeated, my focus was at sea, I bailed out!

Everything We Love About John Irving

… is in this book.
From the opening sentence to the last words this story will captivate the reader.
Ari Fliakos was the right choice to perform Queen Esther.

He weaves a personal relevant and entertaining story that few authors can do.

I had to learn the names of all the German characters and remember who they were and what part they played in the story.

still my favorite novelist

Upon completion, I have once again read everything that John Irving has ever published. Owen Meany is still my favorite. And I still keep passing the open windows, knowing that sorrow floats.