John Irving published his first novel,Setting Free the Bears, in 1968. He has been nominated for a National Book Award three timesamp;#8211;winning once, in 1980, for the novelThe World According to Garp. He also received an O. Henry Award, in 1981, for the short story amp;#8220;Interior Space.amp;#8221; In 1992, Mr. Irving was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Stillwater, Oklahoma. In 2000, he won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay forThe Cider House Rulesamp;#8211;a film with seven Academy Award nominations. In 2001, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.Last Night in Twisted Riveris John Irvingamp;#8217;s twelfth novel. From the Hardcover edition.