The Fourth Hand A Novel
The Fourth Hand A Novel by John Irving, published by Random House Publishing Group on May 14, 2002, is a reprint edition comprising 352 pages in English. This novel follows New York journalist Patrick Wallingford, who becomes a headline himself after losing his left hand to a lion while reporting in India. The story explores the complexities of life and relationships as a renowned surgeon prepares for the first hand transplant in the nation, raising unexpected questions about the donor’s widow and her desire for visitation rights.
Readers will find a narrative that blends humor with poignant reflections on family life and the concept of second chances. The novel delves into the intertwining lives of its characters, presenting a unique perspective on love and personal transformation. With elements of fiction and literary humor, The Fourth Hand offers a thought-provoking exploration of how individuals navigate the bizarre and often unpredictable circumstances of life.
Official synopsis Publisher
#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK
While reporting a story from India, New York journalist Patrick Wallingford inadvertently becomes his own headline when his left hand is eaten by a lion. In Boston, a renowned surgeon eagerly awaits the opportunity to perform the nation’s first hand transplant. But what if the donor’s widow demands visitation rights with the hand? In answering this unexpected question, John Irving has written a novel that is by turns brilliantly comic and emotionally moving, offering a penetrating look at the power of second chances and the will to change.
Praise for The Fourth Hand
“A rich and deeply moving tale . . . Vintage Irving: a story of two very disparate people, and the strange and unexpected ways we grow . . . Irving’s novels are perceptive and precise reflections of the world around us.”—The Washington Post Book World
“A blend of sexual farce, journalistic satire, and tender love story . . . From what at first seems bizarre, Irving builds the best kind of love story: an improbable one. Wallingford gets more than a transplanted hand; he begins to find his soul.”—USA Today
“A riveting entertainment and certainly one of the funniest novels of the year. The authoritative control of Irving’s storytelling has never been more impressive. . . . The delighted reader is powerless to look away.”—Chicago Sun-Times
“[A] thoroughly satisfying literary experience . . . Irving’s most compassionate and redemptive [novel] to date . . . [His] mastery of characterization is unequaled in American novelists of the day.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“A beautiful story about the redemptive power of love.”—The Denver Post
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