John Fowles is the greatest prose writer of our time. He has an amazing sense of words, masterful command of literary language and an amazing gift for creating truly magical lines. Fowles's "The Worm" is a daring literary experiment that represents a true artistic achievement... The landscapes of 18th-century England, a detective plot with elements of mysticism, cunning intrigues and mysterious incidents provide a magnificent backdrop for a deep psychological study in which the author reveals themes so characteristic of his work : the relativity of knowledge and truth, the limits of human freedom, the historical roots of modern civilization.