Whatever happened to the children from The War of the Roses?

"More than 20 years after the publication of The War of the Roses, the divorce story that inspired the famous movie starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, author Warren Adler returns with a biting sequel. Just when it seems the Rose children are headed for self-destruction, hilarious and unpredictable events intervene in Adler's wicked follow-up." Pages Magazine

Warren Adler's The War of The Roses leaped onto the public consciousness and has since remained an essential thread in a wider tapestry of divorce iconography. Now, Adler presents us with the chandelier-shattering legacy of Barbara and Jonathan Rose relived in their children Josh and Evie in a hilarious sequel to the original iconic tale about the perils of marriage, divorce and the destructive power of materialism.

Unlike the legendary Roses, Josh's marriage to Victoria should have all the qualities of an everlasting union. But when an innocent caper involving missing Milky Ways catapults out of control at their son's elite private school, the pair find themselves entering into a shattering warfare of a different kind. Armed with the emotional mayhem inherited from their parents, as well as compounded pressures involving a depraved headmaster, clandestine affairs and Victoria's male-hating mother, The War of the Roses - the Children presents a gripping story of the lengths to which parents will go to protect their children.

Little more than a child herself, Josh's ever sympathetic and over-stuffed sister Evie lavishes her 'food-is-love' obsession on her beloved niece and nephew coping with their own sense of loss. Meanwhile, Michael and Emily, soon-to-be children of divorce, orchestrate their own plan to keep their family together at all costs. Adler, once again, demonstrates his storytelling mastery by revealing the intricate blending of the past with the present, and how time unravels all things seemingly perfect to be darkly and even comically dysfunctional.

It has been three decades since my novel The War of the Roses was published and nearly 25 years since 20th Century Fox adapted it into the film starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito.

This cautionary tale about the perils of divorce and the destructive power of materialism burst upon the public consciousness at a time when divorce rates in the U.S. were at an unprecedented high. Since then, the story has not only proliferated globally, but it has also entered the Zeitgeist and morphed into the divorce nomenclature, both in legal proceedings and as a metaphor for a contentious break up.

The book continues to be read in over 25 different languages, while the movie is shown around the world on television with greater frequency. My play The War of the Roses based on the novel has been successful internationally, and there is a possibility that it will be produced as a musical.

I have received countless comments, letters and e-mails from people who have read the book, seen the movie or staged version of The War of the Roses. Many have expressed thanks to me for it changing their lives in some way, which is the most gratifying response an author can receive. Some have confessed that they had abandoned any idea of fighting over property in the course of their divorces or that the story motivated their rethinking of their breakups. Frankly, I am humbled and astonished at the staying power of The War of the Roses, which takes a dark view of family dysfunction.

We are only beginning to get a glimpse into the long-term consequences of a traumatic divorce and how the painful process of breaking up a family impacts millions of children each year. The very concept of "family" is at risk globally. While divorces in the U.S. have declined since the 1980's, divorce rates across the world, especially in countries like Russia, South Korea, Belgium, and Sweden are soaring. The infamous tale of Jonathan and Barbara Rose is resonating with international audiences now more than ever before.... Read more in preview