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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 Exciting Mind-bending Magic Users Greece

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All stars
Most relevant  
Brilliantly narrated. Had read it many years ago so glad to revisit. Many classical and historical references give the story depth. Excellent characters, humanly flawed and mysterious. Never predictable twists and turns never sure where we are going to be led next.

Intriguing and mystical

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This is an amazing, fully-developed work of art, perfectly read. It didn't even seem like acting - it was so real. A book that sees you through every twist and turn of the plot, working it all out so naturally, so skilfully, that for once I wasn't even sad when I got to the end. I had been taken on an 80-hour journey, a remarkable exploration deep into the development of one man's soul XXXXX

Utterly absorbing

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Beautifully written, fabulous descriptions and a good web of intrigue that keeps you listening - but sadly the lack of a satisfactory conclusion left me a little disappointed.

A mesmerising story but without an end

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First the positives: The narrator was vey good. Good French pronunciation and accents in the story were pretty well done for the most part.
The story itself was intriguing and you wanted to know what was goi g to happen next. The descriptive writing , especially of landscape was very good.
The negatives and potential triggers for readers were the casual racism and misogyny. It was so awful at some points I wasn't sure if I wanted to go on. The final scene in which violence against the heroine by the hero was portrayed in such a way that it indicated that she was asking for it and that she would continue in the relationship was appaling.

a good story but hasn't aged well

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What made the experience of listening to The Magus the most enjoyable?

Form and content perfectly matched. A great reading from Nicholas Boulton of a very enjoyable and thought provoking book.

I am now 50 and have not revisited this novel (one of my favourites in my earlier years) in detail since I last read it in my 20's. It was still a riveting read, although - perhaps with maturity - I now see more of the things that don't quite work or seem dated. Overall, still electrifying with a strong propulisve narrative drive allied to a consideration of how to approach life and love.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Almost all the characters were interesting in some way, even if some worked far better than others.

What about Nicholas Boulton’s performance did you like?

I thought Nicholas Boulton's reading was absolutely outstanding - and that is what has driven me to this review - he deserves the credit. He pitched Nicolas Urfe's voice exactly how I imagined it: cynical and not entirely likeable, yet still eliciting a degree of sympathy with the listener. The supporting voices: various greeks, germans, women as well as men were also very well presented and clearly distinguishable - without turning them into caricatures. The pace and inflection of the reading was even, but varied where necessary in a nuanced and subtle way to underline and represent emotions.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I wouldn't. It's already been tried with Michael Caine and although watchable could not really represent the ideas Fowles was bringing out in the novel.

Great reading by Nicholas Boulton

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This is without a doubt my favorite book of all time, and now favorite audiobook. So many twists, a book that will have you thinking about it long after you after you have finished it!

Excellent

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I was recommended this book in 1974 when we were travelling around Greece. We passed Monemvassia and Naplion on the ferry to Kythera many times, watched the little boats come out to greet the ferry, and travelled “steerage”. We had sat in Syntagma square looking at the Grande Britannia knowing one day we would stay there, but I couldn’t get into this book. Almost 50 years later I still dream of staying in the Grand Britannia and have just finished listening to this book. I’m not sure. It’s descriptions are as I remember but the story? Was the author on some hallucinogenic drugs? Or just mesmerised by Greece and it’s myths? I had to get to the end but none the wiser, I have a sad feeling that it is finished, like many great books when they’re done it’s like losing something.

Strangely gripping

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While not advertised as such, this reading must use the original text, and not Fowles' later and published revision. The differences appear to be slight and infrequent. This may perplex on occasions, if, like me, you move between text and audio, but also it might add a layer of interest or fascination: it is, after all, that kind of book. Rereading the novel after quite some years, I enjoyed it less - knowledge of its ending can dim the experience second time around, but this is version is fluently read, and, as the novel progresses, Fowles' ability to pace the story, create suspenseful chapter endings, and involve a reader/listener grows all the greater. Thriller writers could learn from the way in which, after the novel's deceptively leisurely start, he teases and spurs the reader onwards (and inwards).

This uses the original, pre-revised version

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What a great book. Loads of interesting twist & turns. Gripping all the way through. 100% recommended.

What a great book

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This is storytelling for the simple pleasure of storytelling. It draws you deeper and deeper into the plot. I first read it in the 1970s as a student. I have returned to it now and still find it a great book. A lot of the pleasure with the audible version comes from the excellent way it is read.

Great storytelling

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