The Collector (1963) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

show spoilers

Characters/People edit see section history

• Frederick Clegg: The main character. A lonely young man who works as a clerk and collects butterflies in his spare time. One day, he wins a large prize in the British football pools. This makes it possible for him to stop working and buy an isolated house in the countryside. He then kidnaps Miranda Grey and keeps her in the basement as his "guest." Tells Miranda his name is Ferdinand. She gives him the nickname of Caliban.
• Miranda Grey: Art student and abductee to Fred, she is loquacious and full of life and love for life.
• Annie: The aunt of Frederick Clegg.
• Mabel: The niece of Frederick Clegg. Uses a wheelchair.
• Caroline: Miranda's silly aunt - full of conceit and always trying to be something she isn't.
• Minny: Miranda's sister and confidant, allegedly the cleverer of the two.
• Mr. Singleton: The owner of the bank where Miranda's father invests his earnings and the man Fred blames for the abduction.
• Antoinette: A friend of Miranda.
• Tom: Add a description of this character.
• Piers: A friend of Miranda whom she kissed and is attracted to in spite of herself.
• G.P.: An older artist, with whom Miranda Grey is in love, although she does not know it until much too late.

Quotes edit see section history

• “"When you draw something it lives and when you photograph it it dies"”

  Miranda Grey

• “"It's despair at the lack of feeling, of love, of reason in the world. It's despair that anyone can even contemplate the idea of dropping a bomb or ordering that it should be dropped. It's despair that so few of us care. It's despair that there's so much brutality and callousness in the world. It's despair that perfectly normal young men can be made vicious and evil because they've won a lot of money. And then do what you've done to me."”

  Miranda Grey

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• London
• Lewes
• Ladymont
• Hampstead
• England
• Australia
• Spain
• Paris

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Preceded by One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, and followed by One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Preceded by Tragedy at Law, and followed by Gideon's Day.

Preceded by Something Wicked This Way Comes, and followed by Who Fears the Devil.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. John Fowles (Author)

Other Contributors:

1. Urve Hanko (Translator)
2. Ene Loopere (Designer)

First Edition edit see section history

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Mystery & Thrillers

Movie Connections edit see section history

• The Collector (IMDb)

Books That Influenced This Book edit see section history

Books Cited by This Book edit see section history