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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 

, 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.

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

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In his latest book, author Lawrence Wright tells a fictional tale about a virus that sweeps around the world and the miscalculations that gave it a head start. We talk with the author about the novel and about literature in the time of the current pandemic.

MPR News with Kerri Miller - Author Lawrence Wright on new novel, 'The End of October'

Cover of “The End Of October next two a man wearing a dark sweater.

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

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