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The Collector

By John Fowles
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3.97 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 90,212 ratings, 7,426 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
The Collector by John Fowles is a psychological thriller that follows the story of a socially awkward butterfly collector who becomes obsessed with a young art student. He kidnaps her and keeps her captive in his remote house, hoping she will eventually come to love him. The novel explores themes of power, obsession, and the complexities of human relationships.
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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 psychologically intense narratives and character studies. It offers a deep dive into the minds of a lonely collector and his captivating obsession with his artfully chosen captive. This unsettling yet captivating story engages readers with its exploration of power, control, and the dynamics of human relationships.

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Discover John Fowles’ compelling classic first novel

β€˜Short and spare and direct, an intelligent thriller with psychological and social overtones’ Sunday Times

Withdrawn, uneducated and unloved, Frederick collects butterflies and takes photographs.

'Brilliant-an artist of great imaginative power' Sunday Times

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

Three of John Fowles' most popular novels, rejacketed with a vibrant new modern design.

With an introduction by Evie Wyld

'There is not a page in this first novel which does not prove that its author is a master storyteller' - New York Times

Weird, withdrawn, and unloved, Fred is a young collector of butterflies. One day his eye alights on a beautiful stranger, the art student Miranda, and an obsession starts to form. So when Fred wins some money, he decides to use the money to compensate for his unfair start and to get what he really wants - Miranda. If she could only get to know him, she might start to love him. And so, with the meticulous attention to detail of an experienced collector, he calmly plans her abduction.

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?

The Collector by John Fowles receives praise for its magnificent narrative and brilliant storytelling, combining an intelligent thriller with psychological elements. The novel is noted for its imaginative power and ability to captivate readers through a rich, direct narrative, and has been likened to a gripping horror story that evokes a deep appreciation for freedom. It is recognised as a masterful debut, asserting Fowles' skill as a formidable storyteller.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099470472

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 February 2004

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 17.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 217g

Pages: 304

Collections

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About the Author

John Fowles (Author) John Fowles was born in 1926. He 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, and this reputation was confirmed with the appearance of his subsequent works- The Aristos, The Magus, The French Lieutenant's Woman, The Ebony Tower, Daniel Martin, Mantissa, and A Maggot. John Fowles died in Lyme Regis in 2005. Two volumes of his Journals have recently been published; the first in 2003, the second in 2006. Evie Wyld (Introducer) Evie Wyld is the award-winning author of four novels and one graphic novel. She has won the Betty Trask Award, Miles Franklin Award, John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, Encore Award, Jerwood Fiction Prize and the European Union Prize. In 2013 she was included in Granta's once-a-decade list of Best of Young British Novelists. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and helps run an independent bookshop in Peckham called Review.

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