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John Fowles News & Notes

This page is devoted to current news, rumors, notes and anything else of interest regarding John Fowles.  If you have an item to share, please e-mail us at magusbooks@hotmail.com.

We attempt to update this page approximately every couple of weeks.

August 31, 2010

John Fowles' famous long essay, The Tree, will be published in a 30th anniversary edition by Ecco Press on September 28.  From the publisher:

August 1, 2010

Here's an excellent new blog posting on John Fowles' decision to follow the mega-success of his first book, The Collector, with his book of philosophical musings entitled The Aristos:

http://exhaustionjunkie.blogspot.com/2010/07/aristos-john-fowles.html

July 19, 2010

Looking for a good summer read?  Check out "Le Grand Meaulnes" (English title "The Lost Domain" or "The Wanderer"), a major influence on Fowles' masterpiece The Magus.  The only novel written by Alain-Fournier (who died fighting for France in World War I at the age of 28), according to Fowles "it belongs to, and is the finest example of, a category of fiction that has no name, but exists.  French Classic young man coming of age."  It's a mesmerizing read, with clear undertones of The Magus throughout.

June 27, 2010

Here's an update about the ongoing plans to turn Belmont House, John Fowles' long-time home in Lyme Regis, into a Landmark Trust site open to the public:

http://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/8197012.print/

June 9, 2010

The Lyme Regis Philpot Museum is planning to publish a manuscript put together by John Fowles that is based on The Lymiad, an anonymous poem written in 1818.  During the 1980s when John Fowles was curator of the Lyme Regis Philpot Museum, he made a transcript of the poem, prepared a general introduction and some explanatory notes on local references, and cherished hopes of its publication.  Unfortunately, he passed away before this could happen.  The Museum has secured grants towards the cost of production from charitable foundations and other donors; to complete the task of publishing the manuscript, they need 100 subscribers at £20 per volume.  All those who subscribe will have their names recorded in the publication itself.

Update: about 70 subscriptions have been received, so 30 more or needed.  For more information or to subscribe, click here:

http://www.fowlesbooks.com/Subscribe.htm

May 26, 2010

Lyme Regis fossil hunter Mary Anning has been acclaimed as the third most influential female scientist in British history, and also was a secret inspiration for John Fowles.  Fowles wrote about Anning and help bring to light her many scientific accomplishments during the early part of the 19th century; in addition, he claimed she inspired the character Sarah Woodruff in The French Lieutenant’s Woman.  Click here for the whole story:

http://www.realwestdorset.co.uk/wordpress/index.php/2010/03/24/lyme-regis-fossil-hunter-mary-anning-acclaimed-influential-woman-scientist-royal-society-secret-inspiration-john-fowles-french-lieutenants-woman/

April 29, 2010

Recently had a chance to see the great British author Ian McEwan on tour in San Francisco to promote his new novel.  During the book signing afterwards, got to chat with him for a minute and of course asked him his opinion of John Fowles.  He said that he read The Collector when he was first trying to become a novelist and that it had a profound impact (no surprise there).  He also expressed his admiration for The French Lieutenant's Woman.  By the way, for those who haven't yet had the pleasure of reading McEwan, pick up Enduring Love...it will knock your socks off.

March 31, 2010

Happy Birthday, John Fowles!  The great writer was born on this day, 1926, in Leigh-on-Sea, a small town located about 40 miles from London in the county of Essex, England.

March 28, 2010

Walking tours that explore the literary landscape of Lyme Regis are now available, focusing on John Fowles and Jane Austen.  The Fowles tour explores the areas of Lyme Regis that inspired The French Lieutenant's Woman; here is an itinerary:

"Take a walk to Fowles' recent home, Belmont House, and then follow the sunlit cliff tops to the Undercliff nature reserve which forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The tour includes sites featured in the novel and film, but the best is left till last.  We visit the secluded farmhouse that Fowles adored and in which he wrote The French Lieutenant's Woman. We explore the grounds as Fowles would have done, reading and discussing excerpts from his novel and diaries."

For more information, visit the following site: www.literarylyme.co.uk

February 26, 2010

John Fowles enthusiasts will be able to participate in the production of a new publication that was near and dear to Fowles' heart.  The Lymiad, an anonymous poem written in 1818, has long been one of the most highly-prized possessions of the Lyme Regis Philpot Museum.  During the 1980s when John Fowles was curator of the museum, he made a transcript of the poem, prepared a general introduction and some explanatory notes on local references, and cherished hopes of its publication.  Unfortunately, he passed away before this could happen.

Fowles' dream will hopefully soon become reality with the publication of his manuscript, designed as it might have appeared if it had been published in 1819.  It will consist of some 200 pages, soft-back but with stitched pages and card covers marbled in the Regency manner.  It will include: an essay by Fowles on "Lyme in the early 1800s"; a transcription of the text, with editorial notes by Fowles; and illustrations from the Museum's rich collection.  The Museum has already secured grants towards the cost of production from charitable foundations and other donors. To complete the task of publishing the manuscript, they need 100 subscribers at £20 per volume.  All those who subscribe will have their names recorded in the publication itself. 

Click here for more details.

February 13, 2010

A stage adaptation of The Collector is currently running at the Ruskin Group Theatre in Santa Monica, California.  Playwright Mark Healy adapted Fowles' novel for the stage, and this performance will run through March 6.  More information at (310) 397-3244.

January 30, 2010

The passing of J.D. Salinger inevitably brings to mind The Collector, for two reasons.  First, both books were unfortunately linked over the years to deranged killers, who in their own twisted way used the novels for inspiration. More specifically, in The Collector the kidnapped Miranda gives Clegg a copy of Catcher in the Rye to read, but he cannot understand why Miranda likes the novel.  "I don't see much point in it," Clegg tells her, completely missing the point that in his own way, he is an outsider much like Holden Caulfield.

January 17, 2010

Just came across a link on the web about a novel called "Epiphany" by David Hewson, a contemporary British author of crime and mystery novels.  The review of the book characterized it as "John Fowles on acid"(!).  I'm curious if anyone has read the book, and if so what they think.

January 1, 2010

We'll start the New Year off with an interesting quote from John Fowles, which I think not only applies to how too many people lead their lives, but also to the current unhappy state of affairs in the world.  This is actually something Conchis says to Nicholas in The Magus:

"You are like a porcupine.  When the animal has its spines erect, it cannot eat.  If you do not eat, you will starve.  And your prickles will die with the rest of your body."

December 20, 2009

A controversy recently arose in Lyme Regis, John Fowles' home for many years, regarding a footpath that has been created in his memory near Belmont House, his former home.  Read about it here:

http://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/lymenews/4761731.Lyme__Friends_hit_back_at_verbal_attack_on_author_John_Fowles/

November 23, 2009

Here's a link to a nice site for anyone who might be considering a trip to Lyme Regis, England, long-time home to John Fowles and setting for The French Lieutenant's Woman.  It includes information about The Philpot Museum, which now features an exhibit on Fowles in its "Writers Gallery."

http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/If-You-Are-In-England-Come-And-Visit-The-Lyme-Bay-Coast/824868

November 10, 2009

The French Lieutenant's Woman was published in the U.S. exactly 40 years ago, on November 10, 1969.  It was immediately hailed by critics as a masterpiece, and was a huge bestseller (much to Fowles' surprise).  Only one other novel outsold it in the U.S. in 1970--Love Story by Erich Segal.  Here's the original Time Magazine review from 1969:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,840332,00.html?internalid=atb100

October 28, 2009

Here's an interesting blog by a writer of children's books that does a good job of capturing the magical experience of reading The Magus for the first time.

http://normblog.typepad.com/normblog/2009/10/writers-choice-228-sue-mongredien.html

October 16, 2009

A link recently became available that provides an audio archive of John Fowles' appearance in San Francisco in 1998 during the Wormholes tour (his final tour of the U.S.).  Be aware that Fowles was tired during this interview, and the effects of his stroke from the previous decade are quite apparent in his speech.  UPDATE: the audio at the link below has been taken down...hopefully it will be available again soon.

http://fora.tv/1998/05/26/Interview_with_John_Fowles#fullprogram

October 4, 2009

Belmont House, the Lyme Regis home that John Fowles lived in for many years, is now under the control of Britain's Landmark Trust.  The organization is currently reviewing options on how to develop it into a landmark building.  For more information, click on the following link:

http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/future_landmarks/Belmont.htm

September 24, 2009

For better or worse, there is now a "John Fowles" page on Facebook.  At this point it mostly consists of individuals talking about their favorite Fowles novels.  It is gratifying to see 1,305 fans currently registered to the site!  Here's a link:

http://www.facebook.com/fowles?_fb_noscript=1

September 11, 2009

We recently came across a very interesting article in the archives of the London Telegraph (August, 2003).  It is by author Tim Lott and recounts his visit to the Greek island of Spétses, where John Fowles taught in the early 1950s. Spétses subsequently served as the model for Phraxos, the island setting of The Magus.  Here is the link:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/greece/728075/Greece-The-realm-of-The-Magus.html

September 3, 2009

Ray Roberts, John Fowles’ editor in the U.S. for many years, died August 12 in New York at the age of 71.  Roberts, who worked for several publishers including Macmillan, Doubleday, Little Brown, Henry Holt and Viking, also edited heavyweights such as Ansel Adams and Thomas Pynchon.  At one time Roberts owned the most extensive collection of John Fowles first editions in the world; he sold it a few years ago to the University of Texas at Austin, where it now resides with the John Fowles Papers at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center.  

Ray was an extremely interesting and erudite individual who developed a strong friendship with John Fowles over the years (his favorite Fowles novel was Daniel Martin).  He was a major player in the New York literary scene, and counted among his close friends Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis when she worked for Doubleday.  He will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him.

August 30, 2009

Our friend Ellis Sharp currently has some wonderful Fowles-related photos on his blog, including some that were taken during a recent trip to Lyme Regis.  Also featured is a series of photos showing the homes in Hampstead and Highgate where Fowles and his wife lived during the decade 1954-64.  Click the following link for the latter, and then the individual archives on the right for the Lyme photos:

http://barbaricdocument.blogspot.com/2009/07/john-fowles-in-hampstead-and-highgate.html

August 21, 2009

A new DVD version of The French Lieutenant's Woman is expected to be released by Criterion sometime next year.  Using the best available source materials, the company produces technologically improved versions of classic films.  Starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons, The French Lieutenant's Woman was released theatrically in 1981 and nominated for five academy awards.

 

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