John Fowles Books in Order

John Fowles is a British author born in Leigh-on-Sea, a small town in Essex, where he drew inspiration from the intensely conventional suburban culture of the 1930s. His childhood experiences had a profound impact, shaping his desire to escape the confines of conformity. Fowles attended Bedford School, a prestigious boarding school, from ages 13 to 18, before briefly studying at the University of Edinburgh. As a young man, Fowles served in the military, training at Dartmoor, but World War II ended before he saw combat. He later spent four years at Oxford, where he immersed himself in the works of French existentialists, particularly Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre. This intellectual foundation led to a degree in French in 1950 and a growing passion for writing. Fowles' teaching career took him to France, Greece, and London, where he taught English literature and eventually became department head at St. Godric's College. His time in Greece was pivotal, influencing the development of his writing style and thematic concerns.