![]() The densely layered network of incident and eccentric characters-only beginning with Owen and working its way down to some of the most incidental of the story’s vast population-makes one consider applying the term “Dickensian” to the novel. What makes A Prayer for Owen Meany stand out from the overwhelming bulk of novels of the late 20th century-and, really, for that matter-the entirety of the century is that it is a throwback to the great big novels of the previous century. In fact, what makes the novel stand out from the crowd is exactly the opposite of being revolutionary and pioneering. It is not that Irving tells a particularly idiosyncratic or unusual story nor is it that the book breaks new ground in innovating the art of storytelling. ![]() ![]() That which made it unique at the time and today makes it even more so has nothing to do with its content per se. In the decades that have passed, the dimensions of its rarity have only continued to grow. Published in 1989, John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany was one of the rarest of novels at the time. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. ![]() These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. ![]()
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