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At the novels center is Nicholas Urfe, a young Englishman who accepts a teaching position on a remote Greek island. There he befriends a local millionaire, but the friendship soon evolves into a deadly game and Nicholas finds that he must fight not only for his sanity but for his very survival.

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Characters/People edit see section history

  • Nicholas Urfe: The main protagonist — a 25year-old Englishman who goes to Greece to teach English
  • Alison Kelly: Nicholas' girlfriend who he abandons to go to Greece
  • Maurice Conchis: A wealthy intellectual who is a main player in the masques
  • Lily: A young woman who is involved in the masques and with whom Nicholas falls in love.
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “Freedom”

First Sentence edit see section history

I was born in 1927, the only child of middle-class parent, both English, and themselves born in the grotesquely elongated shadow, which they never rose sufficiently above history to leave, of that monstrous dwarf Queen Victoria.

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Bildungsroman: focuses on the moral and psychological growth of the main character from youth to adulthood.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 188 of 214 in Best English-Language Fiction of the 20th Century. (authoritative list)

Preceded by The French Lieutenant's Woman, and followed by The Moviegoer .

This book is in Random Synapses: 100 Book Challenge (2011). (community list)
This book is in 100 Fantabulous Book Challenge. (community list)
This is book 409 of 1271 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)

Preceded by In Cold Blood, and followed by The Vice-Consul.

This is book 60 of 96 in Waterstone's Top 100 Books of the 20th Century. (authoritative list)

Preceded by Testament of Youth, and followed by Brighton Rock.

This is book 68 of 196 in BBC 'Big Read' Top 200 Novels, 2003. (authoritative list)

Preceded by The Magic Faraway Tree, and followed by Good Omens.

This is book 71 of 98 in Modern Library's 100 Best Novels: Reader's List. (authoritative list)

Preceded by The Wood Wife, and followed by The Door into Summer.

This book is in Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read. (authoritative list)
This is book 93 of 93 in Modern Library's 100 Best Novels: The Board's List. (authoritative list)

Preceded by Ironweed, and followed by Wide Sargasso Sea.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. John Fowles (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Little Brown
Country: Add the country of publication.
Publication Date: 1978
ISBN: 0316290920
Page Count: 656

Awards edit see section history

Classification edit see section history

Books That Cite This Book edit see section history

   
  • The Well of Lost Plots

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