Presents a portrait of the writers and wrestlers who played a mentor role in John Irving's development as a novelist, a wrestler and a wrestling coach. This book also gives a picture of a father's dedication to his children. It also details the interrelationship of the disciplines of writing and wrestling.

Twenty years after The World According to Garp, John Irving presents a new novel about a family marked by tragedy. Both ribald and erotic, A Widow for One Year follows the fortunes of Ruth Cole at three important points in her life.