by Irving, John
First published 2025
Esther Nacht arrives at the St. Cloud's orphanage in Maine after losing both parents. Her father died during their voyage from Vienna, and anti-Semites murdered her mother in Portland. Dr. Wilbur Larch struggles to place the Jewish girl with a family until she turns fourteen. The Winslows, a New England family known for fostering hard-to-place children, welcome Esther despite religious differences. Their hatred of anti-Semitism matches their commitment to helping unwanted orphans. Esther grows up grateful to the family that saved her, never forgetting their kindness even as she explores her Austrian heritage. Irving returns to his Cider House Rules setting four decades later, following Esther's journey from refugee child to elderly woman. The story spans from early twentieth century Maine to 1981 Jerusalem, where seventy-six-year-old Esther reflects on a life marked by displacement and belonging.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century, antisemitism
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: St. Cloud's Orphanage, Maine, Vienna, Portland, Jerusalem
Period: Early 20th Century, 1981
432 pages · Hardcover · Simon & Schuster