Essex - November 5, 2005, Lyme Regis, Dorset) - English writer, novelist and essayist. One of the prominent representatives of postmodernism in literature.

Biography

Born in the family of a prosperous cigar dealer Robert Fowles and his wife Gladys (née Richards). John graduated from a prestigious school in Bedford, where he was class president and proved to be a good sportsman playing cricket. He then completed training for naval service at the University of Edinburgh, graduating on May 8, 1945 - Victory in Europe Day - and was assigned to the Royal Marines. After two years of service there, he abandoned his military career and entered the University of Oxford, majoring in French and German.

In 1950-1963 Fowles taught at the University of Poitiers in France, then at a gymnasium on the Greek island of Spetses (which served as the prototype for the setting in the novel The Magus), and at Saint Godric's College London. On the island of Spetses, he began to write, not yet published. Subsequently, he called Greece his second homeland. In 1956 he married Elizabeth Christie, whose previous husband had also been a teacher on the island. Elizabeth became his companion for 35 years, she had a huge impact on the personality of Fowles and became the prototype for the main characters of his novels.

In the 1970s, Fowles began to reconsider his views on existentialism. Main character his story The Ebony Tower (1974), faced with the choice between existential freedom and continuation ordinary life, chose the second. The problem of finding an identity determines the plot of Fowles' next novel, Daniel Martin. Screenwriter Daniel Martin, according to Fowles, is the grown-up hero of The Magus Nicholas Urfe - and in many ways Fowles himself.

Interest in history, especially reflected in the novels The French Lieutenant's Woman and The Worm (1986, prototype main character became Anna Lee, the founder of the religious Protestant sect "Shakers"), Fowles was inherent not only at the desk, since in 1979 the writer headed the city museum and held this post for ten years.

Fowles' health was seriously undermined by a stroke that struck him in 1988. In 1990, his wife Elizabeth died. Fowles later married a second time.

Bibliography

Novels and short stories

• "Collector" (English) The Collector, , Russian translation by I. Bessmertnaya , )
• "Wizard" (eng. The Magus, , revised into , Russian translation by B. Kuzminsky , ).
• French Lieutenant's Woman The French Lieutenant's Woman , , Russian translation by M. Becker and I. Komarova, )
• "Ebony Tower" The Ebony Tower, , Russian translations by K. Chugunov, 1979, and I. Bessmertnaya, 2005)
• "Daniel Martin" Daniel Martin, , Russian translation by I. Bessmertnaya, );
• "Mantissa" (eng. Mantissa, , Russian translation by I. Bessmertnaya, ).
• "Worm" (also "Chrysalis"; eng. A Maggot, , Russian translations by V. Lanchikov as "Worm", 1996, and A. Safronov, O. Serebryanoy as "Dolly", 2011).

Essay

• "Aristos" (English) The Aristos, , revised into , Russian translation by B. Kuzminsky, ) - collection philosophical reflections;
• "Shipwreck" Shipwreck, ) - text for the photo album;
• "Islands" Islands, ) - text for the photo album;
• "Tree" (English) The Tree, ) - text for the photo album;
• "Wormholes" Wormholes - Essays and Occasional Writings , );
• "Diaries", volume 1 ()
• "Diaries", volume 2 ().
• "Alpine Peaks of Knowledge" The high ridges of knowledge, 2000, Russian translation by A. Babicheva, 2008)

Poetry

Fowles also owns a collection of poems () and a number of translations from French, including an arrangement of the fairy tale "Cinderella", translations of the novel by Claire de Dura "Urika" and the medieval story "Elidyuk".

Fowlesology

The first monographs and collections of articles about Fowles' novels appeared in the USA (W. Palmer, 1974) and France (Etudes sur "The French Lieutenant's Woman" de John Fowles. Caen, 1977).

Screen adaptations

• "The Collector" The Collector listen)) is an American-British dramatic feature film by William Wyler ().
• "Magician" (in another translation "Mag", eng. The Magus) is a film directed by Guy Greene ().
• "The French Lieutenant's Woman" The French Lieutenant's Woman) - a film directed by Karel Reis ().
• "Ebony Tower" The Ebony Tower) - a film directed by Robert Knights ().

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Notes

Links

• in the library of Maxim Moshkov
• (English)
• John Fowles at the Internet Movie Database

Novels Non-fiction works Screen adaptations

Excerpt characterizing Fowles, John

Rostov, shrugging his neck, over which the water flowed, smoked a pipe and listened inattentively, occasionally glancing at the young officer Ilyin, who huddled around him. This officer, a sixteen-year-old boy who had recently entered the regiment, was now in relation to Nikolai what Nikolai had been in relation to Denisov seven years ago. Ilyin tried to imitate Rostov in everything and, like a woman, was in love with him.
An officer with a double mustache, Zdrzhinsky, spoke pompously about how the Saltanovskaya dam was the Thermopylae of the Russians, how General Raevsky committed an act worthy of antiquity on this dam. Zdrzhinsky told the act of Raevsky, who brought his two sons to the dam under terrible fire and went on the attack next to them. Rostov listened to the story and not only did not say anything to confirm Zdrzhinsky's delight, but, on the contrary, had the appearance of a man who was ashamed of what he was being told, although he did not intend to object. Rostov, after the Austerlitz and 1807 campaigns, knew from his own experience that, telling military incidents, they always lie, just as he himself lied when telling; secondly, he had such experience that he knew how everything happens in the war is not at all the way we can imagine and tell. And therefore he did not like Zdrzhinsky's story, and he did not like Zdrzhinsky himself, who, with his mustache from his cheeks, as usual bent low over the face of the person to whom he was telling, and crowded him into a cramped hut. Rostov silently looked at him. “Firstly, on the dam that was attacked, it must have been such confusion and crowding that if Raevsky brought his sons out, it could not affect anyone, except for about ten people who were near him, - thought Rostov, - the rest could not see how and with whom Raevsky walked along the dam. But even those who saw this could not be very inspired, because what did they care about Raevsky's tender parental feelings when it was about their own skin? Then the fate of the fatherland did not depend on the fact that they would take or not take the Saltanovskaya dam, as they describe it to us about Thermopylae. And so, why was it necessary to make such a sacrifice? And then, why here, in the war, interfere with their children? Not only would I not lead my brother Petya, even Ilyin, even this stranger to me, but a good boy, I would try to put somewhere under protection, ”Rostov continued to think, listening to Zdrzhinsky. But he did not say his thoughts: he already had experience in this. He knew that this story contributed to the glorification of our weapons, and therefore it was necessary to pretend that you did not doubt it. And so he did.
“However, there is no urine,” said Ilyin, who noticed that Rostov did not like Zdrzhinsky’s conversation. - And stockings, and a shirt, and it leaked under me. I'm going to look for shelter. The rain seems to be better. - Ilyin left, and Zdrzhinsky left.
Five minutes later, Ilyin, splashing through the mud, ran to the hut.
- Hooray! Rostov, let's go faster. Found! Here is two hundred paces of a tavern, ours have already climbed there. At least we dry off, and Marya Genrikhovna is there.
Marya Genrikhovna was the wife of the regimental doctor, a young, pretty German woman whom the doctor had married in Poland. The doctor, either because he did not have the means, or because he did not want to be separated from his young wife at first, took her everywhere with him to the hussar regiment, and the doctor's jealousy became a common subject of jokes between hussar officers.
Rostov threw on his cloak, called Lavrushka after him with his belongings, and went with Ilyin, sometimes rolling in the mud, sometimes splashing straight in the subsiding rain, in the darkness of the evening, occasionally broken by distant lightning.
- Rostov, where are you?
- Here. What lightning! they were talking.

In the abandoned tavern, in front of which stood the doctor's wagon, there were already about five officers. Marya Genrikhovna, a plump blond German woman in a blouse and nightcap, was sitting in the front corner on a wide bench. Her husband, the doctor, slept behind her. Rostov and Ilyin, greeted with cheerful exclamations and laughter, entered the room.
- AND! what fun you have, ”said Rostov, laughing.
- And what are you yawning?
- Good! So it flows from them! Don't wet our living room.
“Don’t get Marya Genrikhovna’s dress dirty,” the voices answered.
Rostov and Ilyin hurried to find a corner where, without violating the modesty of Marya Genrikhovna, they could change their wet clothes. They went behind the partition to change their clothes; but in a small closet, filling it all up, with one candle on an empty box, three officers were sitting, playing cards, and would not give up their place for anything. Marya Genrikhovna gave up her skirt for a while in order to use it instead of a curtain, and behind this curtain, Rostov and Ilyin, with the help of Lavrushka, who brought packs, took off their wet and put on a dry dress.
A fire was kindled in the broken stove. They took out a board and, having fixed it on two saddles, covered it with a blanket, took out a samovar, a cellar and half a bottle of rum, and, asking Marya Genrikhovna to be the hostess, everyone crowded around her. Who offered her a clean handkerchief to wipe her lovely hands, who put a Hungarian coat under her legs so that it would not be damp, who curtained the window with a raincoat so that it would not blow, who fanned the flies from her husband’s face so that he would not wake up.
“Leave him alone,” said Marya Genrikhovna, smiling timidly and happily, “he sleeps well after a sleepless night.
“It’s impossible, Marya Genrikhovna,” answered the officer, “you must serve the doctor.” Everything, maybe, and he will take pity on me when he cuts his leg or arm.
There were only three glasses; the water was so dirty that it was impossible to decide when the tea was strong or weak, and there was only six glasses of water in the samovar, but it was all the more pleasant, in turn and seniority, to receive your glass from Marya Genrikhovna’s plump hands with short, not quite clean nails . All the officers really seemed to be in love with Marya Genrikhovna that evening. Even those officers who were playing cards behind the partition soon gave up the game and went over to the samovar, obeying the general mood of wooing Marya Genrikhovna. Marya Genrikhovna, seeing herself surrounded by such brilliant and courteous youth, beamed with happiness, no matter how hard she tried to hide it and no matter how obviously shy at every sleepy movement of her husband sleeping behind her.
There was only one spoon, there was most of the sugar, but they did not have time to stir it, and therefore it was decided that she would stir the sugar in turn for everyone. Rostov, having received his glass and poured rum into it, asked Marya Genrikhovna to stir it.
- Are you without sugar? she said, smiling all the time, as if everything she said, and everything others said, was very funny and had another meaning.
- Yes, I don’t need sugar, I just want you to stir with your pen.
Marya Genrikhovna agreed and began to look for the spoon, which someone had already seized.
- You're a finger, Marya Genrikhovna, - said Rostov, - it will be even more pleasant.
- Hot! said Marya Genrikhovna, blushing with pleasure.
Ilyin took a bucket of water and, dropping rum into it, came to Marya Genrikhovna, asking her to stir it with her finger.
“This is my cup,” he said. - Just put your finger in, I'll drink it all.
When the samovar was all drunk, Rostov took the cards and offered to play kings with Marya Genrikhovna. A lot was cast as to who should form the party of Marya Genrikhovna. The rules of the game, at the suggestion of Rostov, were that the one who would be the king had the right to kiss the hand of Marya Genrikhovna, and that the one who remained a scoundrel would go to put a new samovar for the doctor when he wakes up.
“Well, what if Marya Genrikhovna becomes king?” Ilyin asked.
- She's a queen! And her orders are the law.
The game had just begun, when the doctor's confused head suddenly rose from behind Marya Genrikhovna. He had not slept for a long time and listened to what was said, and apparently did not find anything cheerful, funny or amusing in everything that was said and done. His face was sad and dejected. He did not greet the officers, scratched himself and asked for permission to leave, as he was blocked from the road. As soon as he left, all the officers burst into loud laughter, and Marya Genrikhovna blushed to tears, and thus became even more attractive to the eyes of all the officers. Returning from the courtyard, the doctor told his wife (who had already ceased to smile so happily and, fearfully awaiting the verdict, looked at him) that the rain had passed and that we had to go to spend the night in a wagon, otherwise they would all be dragged away.
- Yes, I'll send a messenger ... two! Rostov said. - Come on, doctor.
"I'll be on my own!" Ilyin said.
“No, gentlemen, you slept well, but I haven’t slept for two nights,” said the doctor, and sat down gloomily beside his wife, waiting for the game to be over.
Looking at the gloomy face of the doctor, looking askance at his wife, the officers became even more cheerful, and many could not help laughing, for which they hastily tried to find plausible pretexts. When the doctor left, taking his wife away, and got into the wagon with her, the officers lay down in the tavern, covering themselves with wet overcoats; but they didn’t sleep for a long time, now talking, remembering the doctor’s fright and the doctor’s merriment, now running out onto the porch and reporting what was happening in the wagon. Several times Rostov, wrapping himself up, wanted to fall asleep; but again someone's remark amused him, again the conversation began, and again there was heard the causeless, cheerful, childish laughter.

At three o'clock, no one had yet fallen asleep, when the sergeant-major appeared with the order to march to the town of Ostrovna.
All with the same accent and laughter, the officers hurriedly began to gather; again put the samovar on the dirty water. But Rostov, without waiting for tea, went to the squadron. It was already light; The rain stopped, the clouds dispersed. It was damp and cold, especially in a damp dress. Leaving the tavern, Rostov and Ilyin both at dusk looked into the doctor's leather kibitka, glossy from the rain, from under the apron of which the doctor's legs stuck out and in the middle of which the doctor's bonnet was visible on the pillow and sleepy breathing was heard.
"Really, she's very nice!" Rostov said to Ilyin, who was leaving with him.
- What a lovely woman! Ilyin replied with sixteen-year-old seriousness.
Half an hour later, the lined up squadron stood on the road. The command was heard: “Sit down! The soldiers crossed themselves and began to sit down. Rostov, riding forward, commanded: “March! - and, stretching out in four people, the hussars, sounding with the slapping of hooves on the wet road, the strumming of sabers and in a low voice, set off along the large road lined with birches, following the infantry and the battery walking ahead.
Broken blue-lilac clouds, reddening at sunrise, were quickly driven by the wind. It got brighter and brighter. One could clearly see that curly grass that always sits along country roads, still wet from yesterday's rain; the hanging branches of the birch trees, also wet, swayed in the wind and dropped light drops to the side. The faces of the soldiers became clearer and clearer. Rostov rode with Ilyin, who did not lag behind him, along the side of the road, between a double row of birches.

John Robert Fowles(Eng. John Robert Fowles; March 31, 1926, Lee-on-Sea, Essex - November 5, 2005, Lyme Regis, Dorset) - English writer, novelist and essayist. One of the prominent representatives of postmodernism in literature. Born into a family of a successful cigar dealer. He graduated from a prestigious school in Bedford, where during his studies he showed himself to be a good athlete and a capable student. Soon he entered the University of Edinburgh, but in 1945, shortly before the end of World War II, he left him for the sake of military service. After two years in the Marines, Fowles abandoned his military career and went to Oxford University, majoring in French and German. In 1950-1963. Fowles taught at the University of Poitiers in France, then at a gymnasium on the Greek island of Spetses, which served as the prototype for the setting in the novel The Magus, and at St. Godric's College in London.

In 1963, the success of Fowles' first book allowed him to leave teaching and devote himself entirely to literary activity. In 1968, Fowles settled in the small town of Lyme Regis in the south of England. He spent most of his life in his house on the seashore and gained fame as a reserved person. Interest in history, especially reflected in the novels "The French Lieutenant's Woman" and "The Worm", was characteristic of Fowles not only at the desk, since in 1979 the writer headed the city museum and held this post for ten years. Fowles' health was seriously undermined by a stroke that struck him in 1988. John Fowles was married twice, his first wife, Elizabeth, died in 1990. Fowles' major writings received world recognition, and films based on them contributed to the popularity and commercial success of the writer's books.

Artworks
The Collector (eng. The Collector, 1963, Russian translation by I. Bessmertnaya, 1993) is Fowles' first published novel, which brought fame to the author. The story of a butterfly collector who tried to add a living girl to his collection was filmed (1965) by director William Wyler. The film of the same name was a great success.
Magus (eng. The Magus, 1965, revised in 1977, Russian translation by B. Kuzminsky, 1993).
The French Lieutenant's Woman (eng. The French Lieutenant's Woman, 1969, Russian translation by M. Becker and I. Komarova, 1990) is Fowles' most famous novel (also due to the extraordinary success of Karel Reisch's film written by Harold Pinter with Meryl Streep and starring Jeremy Irons). "The Woman of the French Lieutenant" combines the features of the historical and love story, however, the postmodernism of the author's reflections gives it uniqueness.
"Worm" (eng. A Maggot, 1986, Russian translation by V. Lanchikov, 1996).
Other writings
Novels and short stories
* "The Ebony Tower" (Eng. The Ebony Tower, 1974, Russian translation by K. Chugunov, publ. 1993);
* "Daniel Martin" (Eng. Daniel Martin, 1977, Russian translation by I. Bessmertnaya, 2001);
* "Mantissa" (English Mantissa, 1982, Russian translation by I. Bessmertnaya, 2000).
Essay
* "Aristos" (eng. The Aristos, 1964, revised in 1969, Russian translation by B. Kuzminsky, 1993) - a collection of philosophical reflections, in which, in particular, Fowles explains the concept of "The Collector";
* "Shipwreck" (Eng. Shipwreck, 1975) - text to the photo album;
* "Islands" (Eng. Islands, 1978) - text to the photo album;
* "Tree" (Eng. The Tree, 1979) - text to the photo album;
* "Wormholes" (Eng. Wormholes - Essays and Occasional Writings, 1998);
* "Diaries", volume 1 (2003)
* "Diaries", volume 2 (2006).
Fowles also owns a collection of poems (1973) and a number of translations from French, including an arrangement of the fairy tale "Cinderella", translations of Claire de Dura's novel "Urika" and the medieval story "Elidyuk".

John Robert Fowles was born into the family of a prosperous cigar dealer. After graduating from a prestigious school in Bedford, he entered the University of Edinburgh, but in 1945, shortly before the end of World War II, he left him for military service. After two years in the Marines, Fowles abandoned his military career and went to Oxford University, majoring in French and German. In 1950-1963 Fowles taught at the University of Poitiers in France, then at a gymnasium on the Greek island of Spetses, which served as the prototype for the setting in the novel The Magus, and at St. Godric's College in London.

Fowles' first published novel, "The Collector" (The Collector, 1963), brought him success and relieved him of the need to earn a living as a teacher. Until the end of the 1960s, two more novels were published, large in volume and bold in design - The Magus (The Magus, 1965; revised version 1977) and The French Lieutenant's Woman, 1969), as well as two editions of the book "Aristos", the subtitle of which - "Self-Portrait in Ideas" - gives an idea of ​​both the content of this work and its significance for understanding the early stage of Fowles' work.

In The Collector, Magus, and Aristos, the author's attention is focused on the problem of human freedom (its nature, limits, and the sense of responsibility associated with it), as well as on the fundamental relationship of love, self-knowledge, and freedom of choice. In fact, these issues define the themes of all of Fowles' writings. His heroes and heroines are non-conformists, striving to somehow realize themselves within the framework of a conformist society.

Honored with the prestigious literary prize The French Lieutenant's Woman is considered by many critics to be Fowles' finest work. It is both experimental and historical novel, transporting readers to a thoroughly recreated Victorian world, but not for a moment allowing them to forget that they are - modern people and are separated from what is happening by a huge historical distance. In The Worm (A Maggot, 1986) the eighteenth century is described in as much detail as in The French Lieutenant's Woman the nineteenth century. Between the publications of these remarkable historical-experimental novels, two more examples of Fowles' original prose were published - the gigantic epic Daniel Martin (Daniel Martin, 1977) and the somewhat unexpected miniature story Mantissa (Mantissa, 1982) - a fantasy on the theme confrontation between the creator and his muse.

Many of Fowles' books have been made into films. In 1965, the film "The Collector" was released. And in 1981, the film based on the writer's novel "The French Lieutenant's Woman" with Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons in the lead roles was nominated for an Oscar.

In 1988, Fowles suffered a stroke, after which he suffered from cardiac disorders. Living in seclusion, the writer in last years rarely appeared in public.

In a 2004 nationwide poll of Britons called The Big Read, John Fowles' novel The Magus was one of the 100 most popular and books read In Great Britain.

- November 5, Lyme Regis, Dorset) - English writer, novelist and essayist . One of the prominent representatives postmodernism in literature. John Fowles was born March 31, 1926 in Lee-on-Sea (Essex) ) in the family of a successful cigar dealer Robert Fowles and his wife Gladys (née Richards). He graduated from a prestigious school in Bedford , where he was the head of the class and proved to be a good athlete, playing cricket . After leaving school, Fowles was trained to serve in the Navy under Edinburgh University. May 8, 1945 - Victory Day in Europe - he completed training courses and was assigned to Royal Marines . After two years in the Marine Corps, Fowles gave up his military career and joined Oxford University , specializing in French and German.

Interest in history, which was especially reflected in the novels The French Lieutenant's Woman and The Worm (1986, Anna Lee, the founder of the Shaker religious Protestant sect), was inherent in Fowles not only at the desk, since in 1979 the writer headed the city museum and held this post for ten years.

Fowles' health was seriously undermined by a stroke that struck him in 1988. In 1990, his wife Elizabeth died. Fowles later married a second time.

John Robert Fowles is a famous British writer, an acclaimed novelist, whose work is regarded by critics as a transitional stage between modernism and postmodernism. Among others, his work is influenced by Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. Fowles has been named one of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945 by The Times.

Fowles was born March 21, 1926 in Leigh-on-Sea, a small coastal town in Essex, which is mostly long history was a modest fishing village. His parents belonged to the London middle class: his father, returning from the First World War, was forced to take his father's place in a tobacco trading company and take care of a large family - younger brothers and sisters and the children of a deceased brother. In 1924, at a tennis club, he met his future wife, and in the summer of 1925 they were married.

John's childhood was spent in the company of his mother and a cousin named Peggy Fowles, who was eighteen years old when the boy was born and who

Raya became his nursemaid, playmate, and friend for the first ten years of his life. John studied at primary school in Essex and adored children's books by Richard Jefferies. He was an only child in the family until he was sixteen. In 1939, Fowles became a student at Bedford School, two hours by train from his home, and his time there coincided with the Second World War. He studied well and was an excellent athlete, playing rugby and cricket. After graduating from school in 1944, John was trained to serve in the Navy at the University of Edinburgh in order to enter the Royal Marines, but he graduated on May 8, 1945 and served instead of the Navy.

two years at a military base in Devon (Devon). In 1947, he was demobilized and went to Oxford, where he studied French and first thought about the possibility of becoming a writer under the influence of French existentialists. Although he himself never considered himself an existentialist, he fully shared their point of view, which asserted that this world is full of absurdity.

After graduating from Oxford University, Fowles began teaching English language on the Greek island of Spetses; stay on the island inspired the young writer to create the novel "The Magus" (The Magus, 1966), which instantly became a bestseller, as it perfectly matched the anarchism of the hippies of the 60s and the ideas of the exp

rimental philosophy. It was followed by the novel "The French Lieutenant's Woman" (1969), a narrative in the spirit of Victorian romantic novels combined with postmodern irony, set in Lyme Regis, Dorset (Lyme Regis, Dorset), where Fowles himself spent most of his life. Among his later works were novels: "The Ebony Tower" (The Ebony Tower, 1974), "Daniel Martin" (Daniel Martin, 1977), "Mantissa" (Mantissa, 1982) and "Worm" (A Maggot, 1986) . Fowles' books and essays have been translated into many languages, some of them filmed.

For a long time Fowles lived in Greece. It was there that he met his future

his wife, Elizabeth Christy, who was then married to Fowles' colleague, teacher Roy Christy. In Greece, he wrote poetry and talked a lot with other foreigners, but in 1953, due to the reform of school education, John and his colleagues lost their jobs. Fowles returned to England in 1953. Elizabeth's marriage had broken up by this time, and after returning to England they did not see each other for some time; this period did not last long - on April 2, 1954, they got married, and Fowles became a stepfather to his daughter Elizabeth from his first marriage. For about ten years, Fowles taught English to foreign students in London (London), until the exceptional success of his first publication

forged novel, "The Collector" (The Collector, 1963), did not allow Fowles to devote himself entirely to literature.

In 1965, he and his wife left London in search of a quieter and more secluded place to work, lived for some time on a farm in Dorset (Dorset), and then settled in Lyme Regis, which became their home for the rest of their lives. Fowles' interest in history led him to serve as curator of a local museum from 1979 to 1988, leaving his post only after a stroke devastated his health. After Elisabeth's death in 1990, he married again. Sarah Fowles, the writer's second wife, was with him when the writer's heart stopped on November 5, 2005