Trying to save Piggy Sneed
By: John Irving.
Edition: 1st U.S. ed.
Publisher: Arcade Pub.; Arcade Publishing
Published: 1996
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 432
Subjects: Irving, John, 1942-; Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 -- Criticism and interpretation; Grass, Günter, 1927-  -- Criticism and interpretation; Novelists, American -- 20th century -- Biography
Description: Trying to Save Piggy Sneed contains a dozen short works by John Irving, beginning with three memoirs - two of which (including an account of Mr. Irving's dinner with President Reagan at the White House) are new to American readers. The newest and longest of the memoirs, "The Imaginary Girlfriend," is the core of this collection.

The middle section of the book is fiction. In 28 years, John Irving has written eight novels - but only a half-dozen short stories that he considers "finished"; they are all published here. In the third and final section are three essays of appreciation: one on Gunter Grass, two on Charles Dickens. To each of the 12 pieces, which cover 30 years of writing, Mr. Irving has contributed his Author's Notes.