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Globalization which has (quite ironically) caused the world to be referred to as the global village´ has resulted in the opening up of borders between countries, between states within countries, and between the rural and urban areas. Urbanization of rural areas, counter-urbanization and the rural-urban turn around are causing socio-economists to question the whole issue of the rural-urban /the country-city divide. How legitimate is the dichotomy between the country and the city and the general perception of these two regions? This book contends that we can get an answer to this question by analysing the fiction of John Fowles who, by presenting us with the aetiology of some of the powerful images attached to country´ and city´, disassociates these regions from the prison of conventional pastoral assumptions (which persist to this day) and thus makes possible a free play of associations for both these regions.The practical implications and applications of such a study go beyond the realm of literature and literary studies.

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Bertha Fernandes, M.A: studied English and American Literature at the University of Oklahoma. Currently an Assistant Professor teaching soft skills at Fr. C. Rodrigues Institute of Technology (Navi Mumbai) affiliated to Mumbai University. Frequently functions as Resource personnel for Faculty Development Programmes.

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