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The Magus

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The Magus

By: John Fowles
Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton
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John Fowles’ The Magus was a literary landmark of the 1960s. Nicholas Urfe goes to a Greek island to teach at a private school and becomes enmeshed in curious happenings at the home of a mysterious Greek recluse, Maurice Conchis. Are these events, involving attractive young English sisters, just psychological games, or an elaborate joke, or more? Reality shifts as the story unfolds.

The Magus reflected the issues of the 1960s perfectly, but even almost half a century after its first publication, it continues to create tension and concern, remaining the page-turner that it was when it was first released.

©1977 J. R. Fowles Ltd (P)2012 Naxos AudioBooks Classics Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Mind-bending Magic Users Greece
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What did you like about this audiobook?

It's a dated book but still very enjoyable listen

How has the book increased your interest in the subject matter?

It made me want to revisit Greece.

Does the author present information in a way that is interesting and insightful, and if so, how does he achieve this?

The plot is highly unlikely but the listener can just about suspend disbelief and go with the story.

What did you find wrong about the narrator's performance?

The narrator was great

Wasn't as I remembered it

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Any additional comments?

The Magus is undoubtedly a literary masterpiece as well as a fascinating listen. However, it is quite bizarre and although I loved it I am sure many people will not. If the following don't appeal to you, don't read it: Jungian psychology; mystifying intrigue comprising layers of lies within lies; and armchair philosophy on love, infidelity and freedom of choice. This is something of a caricature of the book's themes but I do believe it may save some people from a 26 hour mistake.

A brilliant book and a brilliant performance

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Listened to it today at 40 years after having read twice before at around 20 and 30 years old. Still unique after so many years and different parts stand out based on our experience. Imperfect but uncomparable.

One of the great books.

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With the title and the initial introduction referring to the Magus of the Major Arcana, I had high hopes. However the title and introduced have very little to do with the story. The first two thirds are good, the last third seems to be an ending for a different story.
How someone can be imprisoned, drugged and physically and emotionally assaulted and not do anything to retaliate or seek justice, is beyond me. The relationship between the protagonist and the initial female interest,also stretches credibility.
The narration is excellent, the story, not so much, I don’t understand what all the fuss is about. I would have preferred to have dedicated 20 hours of my life to something else

The last third and ending was a disappointment

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Superb narration by the actor Nicholas Boulton - just the right amount of arrogance and self-justification to bring Nick to life but be aware this reading is of the old 1965 text and not the universally accepted and in places quite different 1977 one. This should be made clear as this is not the version you'll find in the bookshop.

Great reading of 1965 version

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