The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles. Short summary

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Charles Smithson falls in love with «the French Lieutenant’s woman,» Sarah Woodruff. He is won over by her story: she was coming out wounded and he left her. The author gives 3 possible endings to the novel.

1 minute

In the seaside town of England, Charles Smithson and his fiancée Ernestina meet a woman standing on a breakwater. They are told that the governess, Sarah Woodruff, has brought ashore a French lieutenant Vargennes, who had been thrown ashore by a storm. He promised to return, but did not fulfill his vow.
The story shook Charles. There is no love in his relationship with Ernestina. The young man suspects that his bride simply wants to marry. But marriage is beneficial to Charles, because Ernestina’s father is rich.
Sarah tells how she gave herself to the lieutenant and he left her. Charles meets her at an inn and spends the night. But he learns that Sarah is a virgin, hence the story about the lieutenant is not true.
The author gives 3 possible endings to the novel:
Charles marries Ernestine and they have 7 children.
Charles breaks off the engagement. He returns to the hotel, but does not find Sarah there. He finds her in London a few years later and it turns out he has a daughter.
He finds Sarah in the home of a famous artist. She does not love him, only pities him. Charles leaves for the States.