[caption id="attachment_340567" align="alignleft" width="307"] John Irving & Richard Wolinsky at KPFA, 2009[/caption]

John Irving in conversation with host Richard Wolinsky, recorded in November 2009 while on tour for the novel "Last Night in Twisted River."

John Irving is one of America’s most successful novelists. His first novel, "Setting Free The Bears," was published in 1968. His novel, "The World According to Garp," published in 1978, was an international best seller and made John Irving a household name. He solidified his reputation with "The Hotel New Hampshire", "Cider House Rules"," A Prayer for Owen Meaney" and "A Son of the Circus."