F
When Daniel Martin and Jane Mallory, two Oxford undergraduates, set out for a pleasant picnic on the River Cherwell their please evaporates when they find woman’s dead body floating in the reeds. The picnic was intended as an innocent date because Daniel is dating Mallory’s sister Nell and Jane is engaged to Martin’s best friend, Anthony. They are punting and chatting, not knowing that this day is the beginning of a very long love affair ending 30 years later. Like most happenings in Daniel Martin’s life, happenstance forces events to unfold in unanticipated ways.
Martin, who is punting, says: “I say, Jane, I’m getting hellish shagged. And starving. “When Mallory agrees and says, “Let’s tie-up here. I don’t mind.”
“There’s a cut just ahead. We could go up there a bit. Be out of the wind.”
“Fine.” As they pull into a cut in the reeds, Mallory calls out, “Go back, go back.” When Martin keeps punting, she covers her nose and says, “Oh, I can smell it. Please go back.” By the time they stop moving, the corpse is visible.
However, instead of being repulsed, Daniel’s and Jane’s erotic feelings are triggered. It’s low-key, unconscious, but real. Impulsively, Jane throws a champagne bottle into the river. “Why did you throw that champagne in the river?” Martin asks. Mallory answers, “It just felt right.” Then Martin “puts his arms around her shoulders and kisses the side of her head. She remains staring at the grass. “Why did you do that?” He smiles.” For the same reason.”
Later that evening, Jane appears at Daniel’s flat, and they make love. Afterward, they go their separate ways.
See: John Fowles. Daniel Martin (1977)