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"Owen Meany" is 20th Century Intelligent with a 19th Century Structure

John Irving began his career writing short books that were critically-acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful. His more sprawling novels, beginning with The World According to Garp, proved to be more popular. Book critic John Leonard reviews Irving's latest, A Prayer for Owen Meany, which he says is fatalistic, religious, and unexpectedly funny.

03:38

Other segments from the episode on March 21, 1989

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, March 21, 1989: Interview with William Taubman and Jane Taubman; Commentary on Professor Longhair; Interview with Lyle Lovett; Review of John Irving's novel "A Prayer for…

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