A Prayer for Owen Meany
by John Irving
A Prayer for Owen Meany is a novel by John Irving, first published by William Morrow in the United States in March 1989. Narrated by John Wheelwright, it recalls his New Hampshire boyhood friendship with Owen Meany, a tiny boy convinced he is God's instrument.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First published
- William Morrow, United States, 1989
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving was first published in 1989. We track 2 editions.
Which edition do you have?
Editions
- William Morrow1989 Hardback I own A Prayer for Owen Meany, William Morrow 1989 Log in to want this
- Bloomsbury Publishing1989 Hardback I own A Prayer for Owen Meany, Bloomsbury Publishing 1989 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Adaptations
- Simon Birch film, 1998
Read next
- Comes after
- The Cider House Rules
- Followed by
- A Son of the Circus
In print
- Editions recorded
- 41 on Open Library, 29 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 12 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
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How to Identify a First Edition
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Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How many editions of A Prayer for Owen Meany are there?
We track 2 editions of A Prayer for Owen Meany. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Has A Prayer for Owen Meany been adapted?
Yes, including Simon Birch (film, 1998), according to Wikidata.
When was A Prayer for Owen Meany first published?
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving was first published in 1989.
What should I read after A Prayer for Owen Meany?
In order, it follows The Cider House Rules and it is followed by A Son of the Circus, according to Wikidata.
Where these facts come from
- A Prayer for Owen Meany, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- A Prayer for Owen Meany (Q13911), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 19 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.