One of the most commonly studied post-modern texts which included a section on the film adaptation.
John Fowles's 1969 novel The French Lieutenant's Woman has become a modern classic but it is a complex novel and can be daunting to study. This accessible guide offers detailed readings of the text as well as accounts of Fowles's influences and the context of the novel's composition. It also discusses Fowles's manipulation of the story's Victorian setting and source material, and his treatment of key themes such as gender, sexuality and social class. It addresses the reviews and critical reception of the novel, and offers study suggestions and a guide to further reading. A separate section engages with the 1981 film adaptation scripted by Harold Pinter.