The French Lieutenant's Woman

Historical Context and Significance

John Fowles' novel "The French Lieutenant's Woman," published in 1969, is a significant work of postmodern literature. The book explores themes of love, freedom, and social pressure in Victorian England while playing with literary forms and reader expectations. Fowles uses metafiction to break the fourth wall and engage the reader in the storytelling process, which was innovative for its time. The novel had a considerable impact on subsequent literature and cinema, inspiring a film adaptation in 1981 that received critical acclaim and several Oscar nominations. "The French Lieutenant's Woman" is also regarded as an important contribution to feminist literature, as it raises questions of women's independence and self-determination.