The French Lieutenant's Woman
Price: $600.00
London: Jonathan Cape, 1969. First Edition. Near Fine / Dust Jacket Included.
First edition, uncorrected proof. Publisher's original mustard yellow wraps; maroon dust jacket that is slightly taller than the book, bearing proof date of June 12, 1969 to rear flap, lettered in gilt on front panel and spine, with portrait of Fowles on rear. Near fine with usual creasing to spine; unclipped dust jacket with some light wear and a few small tears to edges, and some creasing and wear to spine ends. A near fine copy overall. The French Lieutenant's Woman follows the relationship between former governess Sarah Woodruff and amateur naturalist Charles Smithson in the 1860s. Fowles used his knowledge of classic literature to enhance the conventional romantic plot, and he was influenced by the postmodernist movement. Uniquely, Fowles includes three dramatically different endings in the book, each explained by the narrator, who at this point has intervened and become a character. The French Lieutenant's Woman was well-received, building off the success of The Magus and The Collector, all of which were adapted into films. Item #JFW006
