The Collector

John Fowles

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'The Collector' by John Fowles is a dark psychological thriller that tells the story of Frederick, a withdrawn and unloved man who collects butterflies and becomes fixated on an art student named Miranda. After winning a lottery, Frederick kidnaps Miranda and keeps her captive in the basement of his house, hoping for their love to blossom in isolation. The narrative alternates between Frederick's perspective, justifying his actions, and Miranda's point of view as she tries to escape from her captor's clutches.

The book explores themes of obsession, captivity, and the complexity of human relationships. It delves into the minds of both the kidnapper and the victim, offering a chilling portrayal of psychological manipulation and the blurred lines between love and control. The slow-building tension and the shift in narrative perspectives create a sense of dread and unease, making 'The Collector' a compelling and disturbing read.

Characters:

The characters are deeply flawed: Clegg embodies obsession and mental disturbance, while Miranda represents resilience and the struggle for autonomy.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is crisp and engaging, utilizing dual narratives to capture psychological complexity while maintaining a chilling tone.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative revolves around a socially isolated man who kidnaps a woman he is infatuated with, exploring themes of obsession and power dynamics through dual perspectives.

Setting:

The setting combines a secluded countryside location with the confinement of a cellar, enhancing the sense of entrapment and isolation.

Pacing:

The pacing shifts between slow-building tension and emotional revelations, effectively enhancing the psychological horror.

WHEN she was home from her boarding-school I used to see her almost every day sometimes, because their house was right opposite the Town Hall Annexe. She and her younger sister used to go in and out a...

Notes:

The Collector is John Fowles' first novel, published in 1963.

The novel is told from two perspectives: the kidnapper, Ferdinand Clegg, and his victim, Miranda.

Clegg justifies his actions as acts of love, while Miranda's perspective reveals the horror of her captivity.

The book explores themes of social class distinction and the search for authentic self.

Clegg collects butterflies, and this obsession translates into his desire to collect Miranda as well.

Miranda views collecting as a form of murder, highlighting the ethical implications of objectification.

The story delves into psychological examinations of obsession, mental illness, and lack of empathy.

Fowles uses intertextual references, notably to Shakespeare's The Tempest, adding depth to character connections.

The novel's narrative structure challenges the reader's sympathy by presenting biased viewpoints from both characters.

The ending leaves a lasting impact, with a sense of inevitability and tragedy regarding both characters' fates.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of kidnapping, psychological manipulation, obsession, mental illness, and eventual death of a character.

From The Publisher:

Discover John Fowles' compelling classic first novel

'Short and spare and direct, an intelligent thriller with psychological and social overtones' Sunday Times

Withdrawn, uneducated and unloved, Frederick collects butterflies and takes photographs. He is obsessed with a beautiful stranger, art student Miranda. Coming into unexpected money, he buys a remote Sussex house and calmly abducts Miranda, believing she will grow to love him in time.

Alone and desperate, Miranda must struggle to understand her captor if she is to gain her freedom…

Ratings (46)

Incredible (9)
Loved It (13)
Liked It (9)
It Was OK (10)
Did Not Like (5)

Reader Stats (163):

Read It (48)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (102)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (11)

1 comment(s)

ColorfulLeo92

It Was OK

1 month

This was a stalker gone kidnapper tale from 1963, very creepy and unsettling but not as thrilling and chilling as I had first thought going in. There wasn't much "exciting" about the novel more calm and quiet but still being creepy and unsettling. Maybe a 3.5 stars.

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About the Author:

John Fowles was born in 1926. He won international recognition with The Collector, his first published title, in 1963. He was immediately acclaimed as an outstandingly innovative writer of exceptional imaginative power, and this reputation was confirmed with the appearance of his subsequent works: The Aristos, The Magus, The French Lieutenant's Woman, The Ebony Tower, Daniel Martin, Mantissa, and A Maggot. John Fowles died in Lyme Regis in 2005. Two volumes of his Journals have recently been published; the first in 2003, the second in 2006.

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