John Irving, one of America's best-known writers, published his first novel at the age of 26. He has written several novels that have been made into successful films, including The World According to Gap, The Hotel New Hampshire and The Cider House Rules. He has won an O. Henry Award, a National Book Award, and an Oscar. A lifelong wrestling enthusiast, Irving was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in Saltwater, Oklahoma, in 1992. Earlier this year, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.