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The Magus

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The Magus

By: John Fowles
Narrated by: Nicholas Boulton
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About this listen

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 Magic Users Greece
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I read this many years ago long before audible in fact long before computers riled the world. It was a terrific story then and this time. Greece lovely Greece.

Loved this

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I first read this amazing story almost 40 years ago. It made a long lasting impression but in the time elapsed I found I had forgotten many things about the story.
Listening to Nicholas Boulton's brilliant rendition brought all the magic back.
Thoroughly recommended

Forty years on: The Magus

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I thought it slow to begin but worth persevering. Intriguing carefully wrought characters. Excellent narration.

Clever. Unique. Enjoyable.

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great fantastic in all ways from start to finish. best book I have enjoyed reading or being read to in a while!

all round thoroughly enjoyable

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Knitted together with astute clarity and knowledge of our world. Cannot recommend highly enough. The human being behind the mask isn't always terrifying.

Truth behind the mask

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Such a mind and heart game. I’ve never read anything like this. The main character is like the readers thoughts through a maze of collective and global deep philosophical, expert literary and moral conflicts. One of the best books I’ve ever read/heard.

What a journey!

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This, unlike so many of the >4 star reviews on audible, fills the 5th star to overflowing. I'm in my mid 40's and that it has maintained its standing over this time is testament to a piece of magnificent writing. Please read this book!

Brilliant

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I first discovered this book over 45 years ago. I read it with rapid enthusiasm . All along the initial journey I was thinking I understood and how clever was the author, the story and me. If my memory serves me correctly I reread it one more time with similar sentiments and conclusions.

Now as a much older person and having listened again to this wonderful reading I must acknowledge I might never fully comprehend the nuances of this story.

Fowles paints detailed verbal pictures . There is no brevity in any aspect of his use of words and yet I find myself compelled to keep listening and not put it aside to an easier read. I remained anxious even as the last paragraph was delivered.

Perhaps now in my seventh decade any insight gained is contained somewhere in the cameo character jo jo. Who asked so little and expected not much more than the dignity of being loved.

Revisited after 45 years

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Reading this novel from the 60s, I'm aware how formulaic so many novels are now and our narrow view of suspenseful structure. This is an interesting novel on so many levels. I found myself pausing often to just mull over the concepts and piece things together. Later I'd stop and imagine the story from other characters' perspectives. Since it doesn't follow a formulaic structure, the suspense is there as we, with our unreliable narrator, try and find reality. The descriptions are beautiful, the characters vibrant and often symbolic. I enjoyed the long process of getting to know this flawed protagonist; seeing his self-absorption from the inside and sharing his frustrations. Rather than a review, I think I have about 5 essays and a thesis ready to go in my mind. The themes and ideas are so rich and keep unfolding until, literally, the last lines. Oh, and Nicholas Boulton is definitely my new favourite reader. There are a number of lines hidden in this great tome that are essential to the themes and unraveling the mystery and need to be delivered just right. It's a rich experience if you are willing to ask yourself questions and let go of an idea of perfection.

utterly unique

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Well written and read even though you wince through the self centeredness of the main character who is unlovable in his self obsession- I’m not sure I’ve read anything so painfully true.

A believable account of the bankruptcy of manhood

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