There are three types of intelligent persons: the first so intelligent that being called very intelligent must seem natural and obvious; the second sufficiently intelligent to see that he is being flattered, not described; the third so little intelligent that he will believe anything. I knew I belonged to the second kind.

Nine months and two weeks later Gladys gave birth to John Robert Fowles. With his second wife Sarah by his side Fowles died 5 miles from Lyme Regis in Axminster Hospital on 5 November 2005.

Later fictional works include The Ebony Tower Daniel Martin Mantissa and A Maggot. This was followed by The French Lieutenant's Woman a period romance set in Lyme Regis Dorset another location in which Fowles was deeply absorbed.