John Irving, author of the critically acclaimed book "The World According to Garp" as well as numerous other novels, will present the Rubin-Cooke Lecture at 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 16, in Battell Chapel, corner of Elm and College streets. The talk, which is sponsored by Trumbull College, is free and open to the public.
Born in Exeter, New Hampshire, Mr. Irving graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and the University of New Hampshire. He also studied at the Universities of Pittsburgh and Vienna, the Institute of European Studies in Vienna and the Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa. He competed as a wrestler up to the age of 34, and he coached wrestling at a number of New England prep schools, until he was 47.
The writer's biography mirrors many of the themes found in his books, which in addition to "Garp" include "Setting Free the Bears," his first novel, "The Water-Method Man," "The 158-Pound Marriage," "The Hotel New Hampshire," "The Cider House Rules," "A Prayer for Owen Meany" and "A Son of the Circus." He is currently working on his ninth novel, "A Widow for One Year," and recently published a collection of memoirs, essays and short stories, titled "Trying to Save Piggy Snead." The author's work has been translated into more than 30 foreign languages.
"The World According to Garp" was nominated for the National Book Award and the National Book Critics' Circle Award, and, as a paperback, won the American Book Award. "Garp" and "The Hotel New Hampshire" were adapted as films under the direction of George Roy Hill and Tony Richardson, respectively, and Disney is currently producing a film based on "A Prayer for Owen Meany." Although Mr. Irving did not write the screenplays for these adaptations, he has completed ones for "The Cider House Rules" and "A Son of the Circus." Both of these films are expected to be in production during the coming year.
The Rubin-Cooke Lectures were established in 1982 by the Samuel Rubin Foundation of New York in honor of former Trumbull College master Michael Cooke. Previous speakers in the series have included Tom Wolfe, Carlos Fuentes, Maxine Hong Kingston and Alice Walker.