John Fowles - by James Aubrey (Hardcover)

About the Book

John Fowles, best known as the author of The French Lieutenant's Woman, has also written numerous other works--fiction as well as nonfiction. This unique reference book by James R. Aubrey lists all of Fowles's writings for the first time. It also provides a detailed biography, criticism of his work from the perspective of various disciplines, explanatory notes, a census of characters, and a comprehensive bibliography.

Aubrey begins with a biography of Fowles, based on information from his writings, published and personal interviews, and correspondence. This section also includes several photographs. The next section discusses Fowles's lesser-known nonfiction work by genre--philosophy, autobiography, biography, translations, book reviews, literary and visual-art criticism, history, and social commentary. Aubrey then pulls together the fiction of John Fowles in the order it was published. For each novel or short story Aubrey provides a description of the circumstances and process of composition, summarization, discussion of its public reception, and critiques of the film, television, or stage adaptations. Critical approaches to Fowles's fiction are covered next: biographical, psychological, post-structuralist, historicist, feminist, reader-response, and formalist. The notes, census of characters, and extensive bibliography complete this reference companion. Aubrey's book will be useful for those studying Fowles and his work, and will be an excellent addition to public and academic libraries.

Book Synopsis

John Fowles, best known as the author of The French Lieutenant's Woman, has also written numerous other works--fiction as well as nonfiction. This unique reference book by James R. Aubrey lists all of Fowles's writings for the first time. It also provides a detailed biography, criticism of his work from the perspective of various disciplines, explanatory notes, a census of characters, and a comprehensive bibliography.

Aubrey begins with a biography of Fowles, based on information from his writings, published and personal interviews, and correspondence. This section also includes several photographs. The next section discusses Fowles's lesser-known nonfiction work by genre--philosophy, autobiography, biography, translations, book reviews, literary and visual-art criticism, history, and social commentary. Aubrey then pulls together the fiction of John Fowles in the order it was published. For each novel or short story Aubrey provides a description of the circumstances and process of composition, summarization, discussion of its public reception, and critiques of the film, television, or stage adaptations. Critical approaches to Fowles's fiction are covered next: biographical, psychological, post-structuralist, historicist, feminist, reader-response, and formalist. The notes, census of characters, and extensive bibliography complete this reference companion. Aubrey's book will be useful for those studying Fowles and his work, and will be an excellent addition to public and academic libraries.

Review Quotes

?. . . . is both a comprehensive bibliographic aid to scholars and a useful guide to general readers of Fowles's works.?-ARBA

?Aubrey (Metropolitan State College, Denver) presents a highly readable summary of John Fowles's life, discussions of both his nonfiction and fiction, and a brief dialogue on critical approaches to the fiction. Although references are cited from 1960 through 1991, most cites are to works from the 1980s. This emphasis updates Barry N. and Toni A. Olshen's similar work, John Fowles: A Reference Guide (1980). Chapter 3, on Fowles's fiction, is especially useful for undergraduates because it includes discussions of each work's composition, summary of the plot, interpretation and reception of the work, and cites to film or stage adaptations. Also included in the volume are a notes section with explanations of foreign phrases and British usage, an appendix with descriptions of Fowles's major fictional characters, and an extensive bibliography. A minor weakness in the index is the listing of Fowles's works collectively under his name instead of individually by title. Highly recommended for upper-division undergraduate and graduate students in literature.?-Choice

." . . . is both a comprehensive bibliographic aid to scholars and a useful guide to general readers of Fowles's works."-ARBA

"Aubrey (Metropolitan State College, Denver) presents a highly readable summary of John Fowles's life, discussions of both his nonfiction and fiction, and a brief dialogue on critical approaches to the fiction. Although references are cited from 1960 through 1991, most cites are to works from the 1980s. This emphasis updates Barry N. and Toni A. Olshen's similar work, John Fowles: A Reference Guide (1980). Chapter 3, on Fowles's fiction, is especially useful for undergraduates because it includes discussions of each work's composition, summary of the plot, interpretation and reception of the work, and cites to film or stage adaptations. Also included in the volume are a notes section with explanations of foreign phrases and British usage, an appendix with descriptions of Fowles's major fictional characters, and an extensive bibliography. A minor weakness in the index is the listing of Fowles's works collectively under his name instead of individually by title. Highly recommended for upper-division undergraduate and graduate students in literature."-Choice

About the Author

JAMES R. AUBREY is Associate Professor of English at Metropolitan State College of Denver. Specializing in British literature, Dr. Aubrey has written articles for Nineteenth-Century Prose, Bucknell Review, and Studies in Philology.