Order of John Irving Books

John Irving is an American novelist known for his works in general fiction, historical fiction, and political thrillers. He is also a screenwriter, having won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay in 1999 for The Cider House Rules. Irving frequently incorporates common themes in his writing, such as sex workers, bears, wrestling, fatal accidents, Vienna, and his native New England. He published his first book, Setting Free the Bears, in 1968. All of his novels are standalone works rather than part of a series. Below is a list of John Irving’s books in the order of their original publication.

John Irving became a published novelist in 1968 with the novel Setting Free the Bears. Below is a list of John Irving's books in order of when they were originally released:

Publication Order of Cider House Rules Books

Book Title	Year	Amazon USA	Amazon UK
The Cider House Rules	(1985)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
Queen Esther	(2025)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk

Publication Order of Standalone Novels Books

Book Title	Year	Amazon USA	Amazon UK
Setting Free the Bears	(1968)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
The Water-Method Man	(1972)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
The 158-Pound Marriage	(1974)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
The World According to Garp	(1978)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
The Hotel New Hampshire	(1981)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
A Prayer for Owen Meany	(1989)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
A Son of the Circus	(1994)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
A Widow for One Year	(1998)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
The Fourth Hand	(2001)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
Until I Find You	(2005)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
Last Night in Twisted River	(2009)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
In One Person	(2012)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
Avenue of Mysteries	(2015)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
The Last Chairlift	(2022)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk

Publication Order of Short Story Collections Books

Book Title	Year	Amazon USA	Amazon UK
Trying to Save Piggy Sneed	(1993)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk

Publication Order of Picture Books

Book Title	Year	Amazon USA	Amazon UK
A Sound Like Someone Trying Not to Make a Sound	(2003)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Book Title	Year	Amazon USA	Amazon UK
The Imaginary Girlfriend	(1996)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
My Movie Business	(1999)	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.co.uk

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