John Fowles's claustrophobic first novel . . . 'It is quite possible,' asserted The Times's anonymous reviewer (), 'greatly to admire a book and at the same time to dislike it intensely and this may be many people's reaction to Mr. 'I told John how much I had admired The Collector and then, without further ado, I asked the question which most preoccupied me: 'Is this your first book?' The answer came back immediately: 'Good God, no.' 'You have written others?' 'Yes.' 'How many?' 'Nine.'' Maschler went on to publish rewritten versions of two of these, The Magus and The French Lieutenant's Woman. Maschler was then a young director at Jonathan Cape, Fowles a schoolmaster in north London. Tom Maschler tells in his memoir Publisher (2005) of his first meeting with John Fowles. In his own colourless, yet curiously expressive words, Frederick Clegg tells how he held her prisoner in a remote house in the country, which he had bought for the purpose with money won in the football pools . . .' (publisher's blurb).

'As stark as a police report, this novel opens with the confession of a young suburban clerk who has kidnapped an art student from outside her home in Hampstead.

Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, 'Reg Gadney with my best wishes John Fowles Lyme Regis 14/3/99' loosely inserted the printed programme, single sheet folded, for the Bush Theatre Club's production of The Collector. Faint spots to fore-edge and endpapers, dustwrapper spotted at flaps, lower cover panel rather dusty, with mild fraying at head of spine and a tiny tear (minimal loss) at head of front flap. Rust brown cloth (the ordinary issue - copies were issued too in black cloth, precedence indeterminate, and not nearly as uncommon thus as some dealers hope) (Tom Adams) dustwrapper.

The Collector by John Fowles