The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles

The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles

Sorry I haven’t written a book review for what seems like ages but I’ve been trying to read this book. I’m not saying I didn’t enjoy it but I had to stop half way through as it’s not a book you can just pick up and read a little bit each evening. If I had more time, possibly in the summer, I would like to reread this when I can read it in bigger chunks.

The book is set in Dorset, mainly Lyme Regis which is a town I regularly visit in the summer so I was able to read and understand the context of the book without too much research. I recommend it even if you haven’t visited Dorset.

Who is the French lieutenant’s woman? Sarah. She is a young girl who had a relationship with a French lieutenant but then found out that he was married and was never coming back. However, despite moving town from Weymouth to Lyme Regis she does not want to start a new life? Why? No one knows. Maybe they tell you in the second half of the book.

Charles and Ernestina are the other two main characters who live in Lyme Regis to escape the busyness of London. They have recently got married.

I’ll admit I don’t know much about this book even though I’ve been attempting to read it for three weeks. However, it has travelled all the way to Portugal. But what really interested me was the narrative as it is a modern narrative but it’s set in 1860s as if it’s a memory.

I hope you enjoy it because I really hope I have the time to revisit it over the summer.