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The Collector
The Collector

A book by John Fowles

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Powerful, disturbing and compelling

  • Sep 26, 2001
Rating:
+5
This is a really unusual book which is so well written that you can identify with both the kidnapper - the frighteningly normal Clegg, and the object of his "collection" Miranda. The book starts with Clegg's obsession with collecting beautiful things, and moves through his day to day interaction with the woman he has abducted. The second half deals with Miranda coming to terms with what has happened to her, and her plans and desires to escape.

It is very well written, and you could amost imagine that there are two authors putting together the novel - one for each viewpoint. It is utterly compelling writing, and it is truly chilling. Clegg could be anyone you know for all of his well hidden psycopathic tendencies. What is worse is the thought that any of us could be Miranda. The story draws you further and further in and presents us with a vision of reality that is utterly terrifying, even though no-one would think to classify this as a horror novel. The ending will leave you breathless and shocked.

This book is definitely one of the classics of 20th Century fiction, and one which everyone should read.

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More The Collector reviews
review by . July 28, 2010
Fred is a young man who was orphaned at an early age. Raised by aunts, he comes in possession of some money and seems to be financially secure. However, his own personal hang ups and social awkwardness prevent him from forming normal social relations. This is particularly problematic when it comes to his relations with women. He becomes fascinated with Miranda, a beautiful young art student. Although keenly aware that she is beyond his reach, he attributes this primarily to their class difference. …
see all The Collector reviews (2)
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Lesley West ()
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About this book

Wiki

Fowles launched his career with The Collector, which was welcomed with great critical enthusiasm, including that of LJ's reviewer, who found it "a distinguished first novel" (LJ 8/63). Mantissa, on the other hand, was a departure from the author's more popular material and received only a marginal response (LJ 9/1/82).
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Details

ISBN-10: 0316290238
ISBN-13: 978-0316290234
Author: John Fowles
Publisher: Back Bay Books

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"Powerful, disturbing and compelling"
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