This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 173.18.88.80 (talk) at 21:51, 20 April 2010. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 21:51, 20 April 2010 by 173.18.88.80 (talk)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) For the film adapted from the novel, see The Cider House Rules (film). First edition cover | |
| Author | John Irving |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Publisher | William Morrow |
| Publication date | 1985 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 068803036X Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
| OCLC | 11533062 |
| Dewey Decimal | 813/.54 19 |
| LC Class | PS3559.R8 C5 1985 |
| Preceded by | The Hotel New Hampshire |
| Followed by | A Prayer for Owen Meany |
The Cider House Rules is a 1985 novel by John Irving. It has been adapted into a film of the same name and a stage play by Peter Parnell.
Plot
Homer Wells grows up in an orphanage where he spends his childhood "being of use" as a medical assistant to the director, Dr. Wilbur Larch, whose history is told in flashbacks: After a traumatic misadventure with a prostitute as a young man, Wilbur turns his back on sex and love, choosing instead to help women with unwanted pregnancies give birth and then keeping the babies in an orphanage. He makes a point of maintaining an emotional distance from the orphans, so that they can more easily make the transition into an adoptive family, but when it becomes clear that Homer is going to spend his entire childhood at the orphanage, Wilbur trains the orphan as an obstetrician and then comes to love him.
Wilbur's and Homer's lives are complicated by Wilbur also secretly being an abortionist. Wilbur came to this work reluctantly, but he is driven by having seen the horrors of back-alley operations. Homer, upon learning Wilber's secret, considers it morally wrong.
Homer befriends a young couple, Candy Kendall and Wally Worthington, who work in an apple orchard, and leaves the orphanage with them. Wally and Homer become best friends and Homer develops a secret love for Candy.
Subsequently, Wally is found in Burma and returns home, paralyzed from the waist down.
Background
The story about Wally being shot down over Burma was based in part on that of Irving's biological father (whom he never met), who had been shot down over Burma and survived.
References
- Mel Gussow (1998-04-28). "A Novelist Builds Out From Fact To Reach The Truth; John Irving Begins With His Memories". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-11-07.