Short History of Lyme Regis, A

Rarely does a small seaside town attract the attentions of a writer as distinguished as John Fowles. But the author of A French Lieutenant’s Woman, much of which is set in Lyme Regis, lived in the town for 40 years, also serving as curator of its museum. In his hands, Lyme’s long history is never dull. Occasionally thought-provoking, always breathing fresh life into the story of its past, the result is a fascinating account of the growth of Lyme Regis from its early days as a medieval port, trading in wool and wine, into a once fashionable resort now dependent on an English summer for its prosperity.