Ženska francuskog poručnika

The main character, Charles Smithson, a wealthy gentleman and amateur naturalist, is engaged to the conventional Ernestine Freeman. His life changes when he meets Sarah Woodruff, a mysterious woman known as "the French Lieutenant's Wife," who is shunned by society for her alleged affair with a French sailor. Sarah, melancholic and nonconformist, attracts Charles with her independence and enigma. Their forbidden attraction develops into passionate love, forcing Charles to question his privilege, morality, and future.

Fowles uses a Victorian setting but interrupts the narrative with modernist techniques, such as direct address to the reader and multiple endings, emphasizing freedom of choice. The novel explores the conflict between duty and desire, while Sarah symbolizes rebellion against patriarchal norms. Charles's struggle reflects an existential search for meaning, while Fowles questions the nature of storytelling and reality.

With its rich descriptions of nature and psychological depth, The French Lieutenant's Woman is acclaimed for its layered narrative and emotional power. The novel is a masterpiece that combines romantic drama with intellectual challenge, leaving readers pondering love, freedom, and destiny.