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The Magus

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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 Mind-bending Magic Users Greece
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What did you like most about The Magus?

I read this years ago, but nothing could have prepared me for the audio version, it is beautifully written, beautifully read. Perfect prose with amazing descriptive passages.

Have you listened to any of Nicholas Boulton’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I don't recall anything else I may have heard by this reader, but oh, my goodness he is wonderful, maintaining a perfect balance of characters and atmosphere throughout this long, entrancing novel..

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Would have liked to, and indeed it accompanied me to bed on several occasions, but it is a very long book, and with the best will in the world I had to sleep!

Any additional comments?

Going to buy some more John Fowles soon.

Absolutely riveting

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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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Would you listen to The Magus again? Why?

Definitely

Who was your favorite character and why?

they are all facinating

What does Nicholas Boulton bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I have read the book twice but understood much more by listening

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

no

Any additional comments?

A brilliant book

the Magus

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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 a classic post-modern novel which often features in best lists. Plot and characterization are well-documented elsewhere. This is a story which is engaging, intriguing, alarming, thought-provoking and which has the central character and listener wondering what is real and what is not.

Nicholas Boulton's narration is superb and never falters as he switches convincingly between the voices of both male and female characters from different nations.

This is one of those novels that I have long felt I should have read but the book remained on the shelf. I'm now very glad I chose to listen and have the story brought to life in this way.

An intriguing story with the perfect narrator

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