{"product_id":"queen-esther-2","title":"Queen Esther","description":"\u003cb\u003eAfter forty years, John Irving returns to the world of his bestselling classic novel and Academy Award-winning film, \u003ci\u003eThe Cider House Rules\u003c\/i\u003e, 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.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEsther 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\u003ci\u003e any\u003c\/i\u003e family who'll adopt her. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eJohn Irving's sixteenth novel is a testament to his enduring ability to weave complex characters and intricate narratives that challenge and captivate. \u003ci\u003eQueen Esther\u003c\/i\u003e 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.","brand":"Simon \u0026 Schuster Audio","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51947248746727,"sku":"9781668142615","price":44.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0449\/4075\/5096\/files\/imageloader_8364e3fa-e8f3-4f4e-9fcc-1575b4371491.jpg?v=1775484982","url":"https:\/\/arvidabookco.com\/products\/queen-esther-2","provider":"Arvida Book Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}