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A Maggot

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( 3,531 ratings, 230 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Maggot by John Fowles is a unique blend of historical fiction and metafiction, set in 18th-century England. It follows the mysterious journey of a group of travellers, whose purpose gradually unfolds through a series of interviews and letters. The narrative intricately weaves themes of mystery, intrigue, and existential questions into its historical tapestry.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by mysteries wrapped in historical contexts with a blend of philosophical exploration. The narrative unfolds in 18th-century England, combining a detective-like examination of events with a philosophical inquiry, engaging those who appreciate richly detailed storytelling with complex themes.

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This image gives way to another - a hanging corpse with violets stuffed in its mouth - which leads us into a maze of beguiling paths and wrong turnings, disappearances and revelations, unaccountable motives and cryptic deeds, as this compelling mystery swerves towards a starling vision at its centre.

'Brilliant and compelling' Guardian

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An extraordinary work of fiction, from one of the world's most exceptional writers, in our new Fowles livery.

An extraordinary work of fiction, from one of the world's most exceptional writers.

The year is 1736, and five travellers are journeying across Exmoor on horseback, their purpose unknown. One evening they stop at a village inn for some rest and, soon after, hear that a man has been hanged nearby and that another is missing. What follows is a maze of beguiling paths and wrong turnings, rituals and revelations, unaccountable motives and cryptic deeds, as the mystery swerves towards a startling vision at its centre.

This altogether admirable novel serves, as all literature should, the forces of subversion β€” Anthony Burgess, Observer

The reader is carried headlong into a maze of violent death, bizarre sex, disguise and terror β€” Sunday Times

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

John Fowles's A Maggot is heralded as a remarkable and imaginative work, praised for its astounding imaginative power and technical virtuosity. Reviewers commend its subversive themes and bold experimentation, likening it to Fowles's earlier work The French Lieutenant's Woman but noting it as a more artistically notable achievement. The novel's compelling and passionate narrative captivates readers as it spans across centuries, showcasing Fowles's masterful storytelling.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099480419

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 November 1996

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 27.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 319g

Pages: 464

About the Author

John Fowles won international recognition with The Collector, his first published title, in 1963. He was immediately acclaimed as an outstandingly innovative writer of exceptional imaginative power. This reputation was confirmed with the appearance of his subsequent works including The Aristos, The Magus, The French Lieutenant's Woman, The Ebony Tower, Daniel Martin, Mantissa and A Maggot. John Fowles died in 2005.

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