Do you know that every great thing in the history of art and every beautiful thing in life is actually what you call nasty or has been caused by feelings that you would call nasty? By passion, by love, by hatred, by truth. Do you know that?

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.