The Time Traveler's Wife is the
debut novel of American author
Audrey Niffenegger, published in 2003. It is a love story about a man with a
genetic disorder that causes him to
time travel unpredictably, and about his wife, an artist, who has to cope with his frequent absences and dangerous experiences. Niffenegger, frustrated in love when she began the work, wrote the story as a
metaphor for her failed relationships. The tale's central relationship came to her suddenly and subsequently supplied the novel's title. The novel, which has been classified as both
science fiction and
romance, examines issues of love, loss, and
free will. In particular, it uses time travel to explore miscommunication and distance in relationships, while also investigating deeper
existential questions.