Book cover of The French Lieutenant's Woman

Book description

As part of Back Bay's ongoing effort to make the works of John Fowles available in uniform trade paperback editions, two major works in the Fowles canon are reissued to coincide with the publication of Wormholes, the author's long-awaited new collection of essays and occasional writings.Perhaps the most beloved of…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

2 authors picked The French Lieutenant's Woman as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I was utterly captivated by Meryl Streep’s performance in the film; I had to read the book. Great plot line with its revolutionary intrigue. My heart warmed utterly to Sarah Woodruff, and the mysterious, charismatic qualities she so powerfully radiated. She was a powerful fractional role model for Charity’s character.   

From Joy's list on the French Revolution.

Fowles studied French Literature and knew the metafictional and postmodern French fashions before they leaked out to much of the rest of the world in the sixties and seventies. In this novel he uses, even parodies, some of the techniques of the French genre, but the wonderful thing is that reading the novel is not an experience of mere authorial cleverness, fashionableness, or hubristic/ hermetic disconnections from reality and the serious ethical concerns of those who have to function in the real world. You put the book down and know you’ve had a meaningful experience

The novel’s protagonist, Charles,…

If you love The French Lieutenant's Woman...

Book cover of The Winnowing

The Winnowing by Patrick Garner,

We know the Greek gods from mythology, and assume their stories ended there. They did not. This is a compelling new story about the Olympic gods in our century. True to form, they continue to challenge our modern morality. Now they appear to prevent humans from discovering immortality.

The Fates—three…

Want books like The French Lieutenant's Woman?

Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The French Lieutenant's Woman.

Browse books like The French Lieutenant's Woman

Book cover of Cold Mountain
Book cover of Home Before Morning: The Story of an Army Nurse in Vietnam
Book cover of Regeneration

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,397

readers submitted
so far, will you?