John Fowles' The French Lieutenant's Woman is praised for its innovative narrative techniques and richly detailed Victorian setting. Critics admire its metafictional elements and in-depth character development. However, some find its experimental style challenging and its multiple endings confusing. Overall, it is a thought-provoking and engaging read.

A reader who enjoys The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles likely appreciates intricate narratives, rich character development, and historical settings. Fans of novels like Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë or Possession by A.S. Byatt will find similar pleasures in Fowles' blend of Victorian themes and modernist techniques.

The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles is a postmodern exploration of Victorian society, focusing on Charles Smithson, an aristocrat in Lyme Regis. He is engaged to Ernestina Freeman but becomes fascinated with Sarah Woodruff, a woman ostracized due to a scandalous past involving a French lieutenant. The novel examines Charles's internal conflict and societal pressures, leading to multiple possible endings.

Mysterious / Bittersweet / Contemplative / Melancholic

- The French Lieutenant's Woman was groundbreaking in its narrative style, employing techniques such as metafiction and multiple endings, which were quite innovative for a historical novel published in 1969.
- The novel was partly inspired by the works of Thomas Hardy; John Fowles has mentioned that the setting and themes were influenced by Hardy's portrayal of Victorian England.
- The French Lieutenant's Woman was shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize in 1969, highlighting its critical acclaim and impact in the literary world at the time of its release.

**Charles Smithson**  
A Victorian gentleman engaged to Ernestina, who becomes conflicted as he develops feelings for Sarah. His journey illustrates his struggle between societal expectations and personal desires.

**Sarah Woodruff**  
The enigmatic titular character known as the French Lieutenant's Woman, who is perceived as a social outcast and captivates Charles. Her mysterious and rebellious nature challenges the norms of her time.

**Ernestina Freeman**  
A young middle-class woman, engaged to Charles, who embodies the societal ideals and expectations of Victorian femininity. She represents the conventional path of social mobility.

**The Narrator**  
An unnamed and evolving presence who interacts with the characters and events of the story. His subjective narration and meta-commentary highlight the nature of storytelling and the ambiguity of narrative truth.

John Fowles

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