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Illustrated portrait of Adrian Goodlove

A character in Fear of Flying

Adrian Goodlove

The English analyst who first appears to embody Isadora’s fantasy of erotic escape.

What they want in Isadora’s account

To pursue pleasure and movement on his own terms without accepting the full obligations Isadora’s romantic fantasy places on him.

The book

Cover of Fear of Flying by Erica Jong
Fear of FlyingErica Jong, 1973

Isadora Wing tests sexual fantasy, marriage, and freedom in a candid, feverish, and sharply self-mocking voice.

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At a glance

Profession
Analyst
Meeting
Vienna conference
Connection
Isadora’s lover and travel companion

Who they are in the book

Spoiler-free

Adrian’s irreverence and charm stand out inside the professional conference. On the road, however, he becomes a complicated man with habits, selfishness, and power rather than an abstract route to freedom.

His ordinary difficulty is central to the book’s distinction between a perfect fantasy and a lived affair.

How the book draws them

Appearance, manner, and tone — as the book sketches them, in our words.

  • English analystHis professional identity remains visible beneath informality.
  • Slightly raffish 1970s styleCharm feels worn rather than polished.
  • Self-satisfied expressionConfidence carries a trace of selfishness.
  • Relaxed postureHe initially seems freer than Bennett.
  • Close engraved bustNo car or travel props appear.
  • Muted ochre accentA warm earth tone marks his allure.
What happens to Adrian GoodloveHow the book leaves them, what happened after, and what the record says. Open when you're ready.

The road-trip affair fails to become a lasting life, and Isadora leaves the fantasy Adrian represented behind.

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