How many books has John Fowles written?

John Fowles published 9 novels, 7 non-fiction books and 4 other books that we list, as of September 2026.

What order should I read John Fowles's books in?

Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Magus.

What is John Fowles's most famous book?

The Magus (1965) is John Fowles's most widely read book.

Which John Fowles books have been adapted?

3 books have been adapted for film or TV, including The Collector (film, 1965), The Magus (film, 1968) and The French Lieutenant's Woman (film, 1981).

John Fowles books in order

English novelist

Lived: 1926–2005
Country: United Kingdom
Books: 20

John Fowles published 9 novels, 7 non-fiction books and 4 other books, beginning with The Collector (1963). The best-known is The Magus (1965).

Updated September 2026

Where to start with John Fowles

Start here
The Magus
John Fowles's most-read book.
Shortest way in
The Collector
One of the most-read, at about 288 pages.

Standalone novels in order

The Collector (May 1963)
288 pages★ 4.0 (5 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
The Magus (1965)
656 pages★ 3.8 (12 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
The French Lieutenant's Woman (1969)
445 pages★ 4.3 (7 ratings)Adapted for film
Buy
The Ebony Tower (1974)
304 pages
Buy
Daniel Martin (Oct 1977)
674 pages
Buy
Mantissa (1982)
195 pages
Buy
A Maggot (1985)
455 pages
Buy
Conversations with John Fowles (1999)
243 pages
Buy
Journals, Vol. II (2006)
480 pages
Buy

Non-fiction in order

The Aristos (1964)
224 pages
Buy
Shipwreck (1974)
46 pages
Buy
Islands (1978)
108 pages
Buy
Steep Holm (1978)
222 pages
Buy
Lyme Regis Camera (1990)
96 pages
Buy
The Tree (1992)
99 pages
Buy
Wormholes (1997)
405 pages
Buy

Other books in order

Cinderella (1974)
Buy
The Enigma of Stonehenge (1980)
126 pages
Buy
Land (1985)
127 pages
Buy
Ourika (2014)
80 pages
Buy

Film and TV adaptations

The Collector (1965)Film · from The Collector
The Magus (1968)Film · from The Magus
The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)Film · from The French Lieutenant's Woman

About John Fowles

John Robert Fowles was an English novelist, critically positioned between modernism and postmodernism. His work was influenced by Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, among others.

Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

John Fowles FAQ

How many books has John Fowles written?: John Fowles published 9 novels, 7 non-fiction books and 4 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
What order should I read John Fowles's books in?: Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Magus.
What is John Fowles's last book?: Journals, Vol. II (2006).
What is John Fowles's most famous book?: The Magus (1965) is John Fowles's most widely read book.
Which John Fowles books have been adapted?: 3 books have been adapted for film or TV, including The Collector (film, 1965), The Magus (film, 1968) and The French Lieutenant's Woman (film, 1981).

Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.