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Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller
Kerri Miller and Breann Schossow

Author Lawrence Wright on new novel, 'The End of October'

Cover of “The End Of October next two a man wearing a dark sweater.
Lawrence Wright is an author, screenwriter, playwright and a staff writer for The New Yorker magazine. His latest novel is “The End of October.”
Courtesy photo | Author photo by Kenny Braun

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Within the first pages of Lawrence Wright’s new novel, “The End of October,” health officials discuss a mysterious disease outbreak in Indonesia that’s left 47 people dead and then seemingly vanished without a trace. Upon further investigation, it’s revealed that the spread of the virus has only just begun.

It’s a story that sounds eerily familiar, especially as the novel comes out during a pandemic. In a recent interview, Wright said he reads the news and feels like he’s reading a chapter in his book. “Unfortunately, real life seems to have taken the form to heart and outraced even some of my imagination.”

Kerri Miller talked with Wright about how he developed “The End of October” and what he learned about pandemics as part of his research for the novel.

Guest: 

  • Lawrence Wright is an author, screenwriter, playwright and a staff writer for The New Yorker magazine. His latest novel is “The End of October.”

To listen to the full conversation you can use the audio player above.

Subscribe to the MPR News with Kerri Miller podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts , Spotify or RSS.