Description
John Irving broke through in the 1970s with a voice that blended dark humor, deep emotional truth, and an outsider’s eye on American life. The World According to Garp, his fourth novel, cemented his reputation as a major American novelist—one who could merge the literary with the popular. With a background that includes studying with Kurt Vonnegut at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Irving carved out a lane all his own, often spotlighting unconventional families, the wrestling world, and human frailty. His blend of satire, tragedy, and tender observation continues to influence writers and readers alike.
First published in 1978 by Dutton, The World According to Garp is a rich, sprawling novel that orbits the life of T.S. Garp—writer, father, husband, son, and fighter of absurdity. The book’s unusual mixture of farce, horror, and poignancy mirrors the chaotic emotional range of real life. Irving’s narrative swings between wildly funny and heart-wrenchingly dark. The novel was a finalist for the National Book Award and became a massive bestseller, eventually adapted into a Robin Williams–starring film in 1982. This is the true first edition in navy and yellow cloth boards with the $10.95 jacket price intact.
A true first of Irving’s breakout novel, made even better with his signature in tow—harder to find in this shape than you’d think.
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