John Irving, born John Wallace Blunt Jr., on March 2, 1942, in Exeter, New Hampshire, is a distinguished American and Canadian novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. He gained widespread acclaim after the success of his fourth novel, The World According to Garp, in 1978. Irving's literary career is marked by several bestsellers, including The Hotel New Hampshire (1981), The Cider House Rules (1985), A Prayer for Owen Meany (1989), and A Widow for One Year (1998).

He was a dedicated wrestler for twenty years and even coached until the age of forty-seven. Irving's achievements include being nominated for the National Book Award three times, winning once in 1980 for The World According to Garp. He also received an O. Henry Award in 1981 for his short story "Interior Space" and won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2000 for The Cider House Rules. In 2013, he received a Lambda Literary Award for In One Person.

Irving's novels have been translated into over thirty-five languages, reflecting his international appeal. He currently resides in Toronto. Among all his works, A Prayer for Owen Meany stands as his all-time best-selling novel across all languages.