The French Lieutenant's WomanThe French Lieutenant's Woman
Score Classic
What it's about
In 1867, in the seaside town of Lyme Regis, Charles Smithson, a gentleman who collects fossils, is engaged to a pretty, conventional young woman. Then he meets Sarah Woodruff, a mysterious outcast said to have been abandoned by a French officer, who stands at the end of the harbor staring out to sea. Charles is drawn to her, and risks everything. The narrator, from the 1960s, keeps stepping in to comment.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 12 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and is on TIME's list of the best novels. It's a Victorian love story and a clever game with the novel itself, with more than one ending.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
The narrator's interruptions are part of the design. The 1981 film stars Meryl Streep.
By the numbers
- Readers25 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics59 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller59 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
More by John Fowles
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Sentimental EducationExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The French Lieutenant's Woman worth reading?
Yes. It spent 12 weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and is on TIME's list of the best novels. It ranks #1,511 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The French Lieutenant's Woman about?
In 1867, in the seaside town of Lyme Regis, Charles Smithson, a gentleman who collects fossils, is engaged to a pretty, conventional young woman. Then he meets Sarah Woodruff, a mysterious outcast said to have been abandoned by a French officer, who stands at the end of the harbor staring out to sea. Charles is drawn to her, and risks everything. The narrator, from the 1960s, keeps stepping in to comment.
How long does it take to read The French Lieutenant's Woman?
About 10 hours (399 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The French Lieutenant's Woman?
If you liked it, try Possession by A. S. Byatt, The Magus by John Fowles or Atonement by Ian McEwan.