John Irving has written 15 novels over the course of his prolific career, including The World According to Garp, The Cider House Rules, A Prayer for Owen Meany, A Widow for One Year, and his most recent, The Last Chairlift. Five of his books have been adapted for film. Time has said of his work, “It is impossible to imagine the American — or international — literary landscape without John Irving.” Irving’s longtime commitment to social justice, feminism, and tolerance for sexual minorities has made him a bard of alternative families and a strong voice on the subject of sexual freedom. Among his honors are the O. Henry Prize, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Medal of Honor for Literature from the National Arts Club. He’s been inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. He lives in Toronto.