A Magnificent novel to recomend: THE MAGUS by John Fowles

by Terry 13 Replies latest jw friends

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  Terry

  When I was 18, The Magus was my favorite book. It was suggested to me by my favorite teacher, Mr. McGilvray (my science teacher.)

  It is many decades later and I recently sat down with this book in great curiousity: would I appraise it nearly so highly now?

  The short and enthusiastic answer is: YES! Even more so.

  A brief synopsis: (Wikipedia.org)

  The story concerns a young Oxford graduate and aspiring poet, Nicholas Urfe, who takes up with Alison Kelly, an Australian girl he meets at a party in London. In order to get away from an increasingly serious relationship with her, Nicholas accepts a post teaching English at the Lord Byron School in the Greek island of Phraxos. Bored, depressed, disillusioned, and overwhelmed by the Mediterranean island, Nicholas' hobbies include contemplating suicide and taking long solitary walks. On one of these walks he stumbles upon the wealthy Greek recluse Maurice Conchis, who may or may not have collaborated with the Nazis during the Second World War, and apparently lives alone on his island estate.

  Nicholas is gradually drawn into Conchis' psychological games, his paradoxical views on life, his mysterious persona, and his eccentric masques. At first these various aspects of what the novel terms the "godgame" seem to Nicholas to be a joke, but as they grow more elaborate and intense, Nicholas's ability to determine what is real and what is not vanishes. Against his will and knowledge he becomes a performer in the godgame, and realizes that the enactments of the Nazi occupation, the absurd playlets after de Sade, and the obscene parodies of Greek myths are not about Conchis' life, but his own.

  Originally titled: THE GODGAME this novel was Fowles' first book. It was, however, published 3rd. Fowles' first book, THE COLLECTOR was quite the rage and bestseller (even a movie) when it was published.

  But, The Magus was the result of many years trying to craft a 1st novel. So, worrisome was this book to the author he sought to strenuously revise it years later. He re-wrote many scenes as well as the ending (quite controversial and enigmatic in the original.)

  Fowles' writing style is not self-conscious like Faulkner nor quirky like Cormac McCarthy (two favorites of mine.) It has a purity of expression which is easily read, yet, masterfully in control of form and vocabulary (quite literary.)

  As you read the novel you are plunged into a story and a world with so many layers (onion-like) you can easily be sucked into the same mysterious intellectual conundrum the protagonist finds himself in: he can see what is happening--but--it can't help him figure out WHY it is happening.

  This is one of the most enjoyable reads of my lifetime.

  Head's up!!

  The Magus by John Fowles ( Paperback - Jan 4, 2001) Buy new: $16.95 $6.78

  7 new from $6.78 7 used from $5.86 Get it by Thursday, Sep 2 if you order in the next 4 hours and choose one-day shipping. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping. (234)
• 

  Terry

  Excerpt from an Amazon.com review:

  John Fowles describes The Magus, published in 1965, as his first novel. The protagonist is Nicholas Urfe, a young, middle-class Englishman, an Oxford graduate. The book begins in England, describing Nicholas' confused affair with Alison. They part and Nicholas takes a job teaching at a private boys' school on a beautiful Greek Island, Phraxos. On one of his island wanderings, he comes across a remote villa, owned by Conchis, the Magus or magician of the story. Conchis, an elderly man with enormous wealth, hypnotic presence, and mysterious background, entices Nicholas into a series of surreal, often fascinating, often bewildering events, the reality and meaning of which continually elude both Nicholas and the reader. Alison reappears in the story along with many new and mysterious characters, most notably a phantom-like young woman with whom Nicholas falls in love.

  ... I found the book remarkable in several respects. For me, the most stunning feature of the novel was Fowles' ability to so effectively, vividly, evoke the "soul of place" of Phraxos, and the island's profound impact on the character of Nicholas. The island itself evokes the archetype of the magical wilderness, a place of haunting natural beauty and dark secrets like the psyche itself. Fowles' prose conjures a sense of profound grief, which I suspect harkens back to the lost enchantment of ancient Greek pagan culture and its mythopoetic richness. It's interesting to note that, while Fowles disavows the notion that this is a biographical work, he reports that he spent a short period teaching at a private boarding school on a similar Greek island, Spetsai. There, by the way, he encountered a villa on which he based "Bourani," the mystical villa of his story. Fowles also notes that this is a book that especially invites readers to project their own meanings and interpretations. Like many Trickster works of art, the reader finds himself both provoked and thrilled. The Magus' manipulation of Nicholas seems at once benevolent and at other times sadistic and unconscionable. One of the variations of the Magus archetypal is the magician as guru-teacher, e.g. the Zen master or Don Juan in the Castaneda works, who ruthlessly manipulate their students in order to bring enlightenment.
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  kazar

  I read this book 10 years ago. It was a wonderful mental excursion. Loved it then and still do.
• 

  Terry

  I read this book 10 years ago. It was a wonderful mental excursion. Loved it then and still do.

  Did you know there are 2 versions of this book?

  The original version differs from the revision in that the 2nd has rewritten scenes and a new ending!

  Definitive "answers" come along recast in more literal contexts. It is like a great cover version of your favorite song.

  I recommend that a person about to read THE MAGUS ask themselves an important question: "How comfortable am I with being allowed personal interpretation of events in a novel versus greater certainty?

  If you want it more literal than interpretive; chose the 2nd version.

  It is a miracle that both versions work quite astoundingly well in differing ways.

  Avoid the movie with Michael Caine, Anthony Quinn and Candice Bergen at all costs!!
• 

  kazar

  Terry,

  No, I was unaware that there were two versions of the book. I will get the second version. It has been so long since I read The Magus I'm sure it will be like reading it for the first time. When I first got the book I read it several times over a period of a year. It is my favorite book along with Siddartha and Dictionary of the Khazars. I have not seen the movie. I didn't know there was a movie of it. I don't see how The Magus could be translated to the movie screen.

  Thanks for the information!
• 

  Quentin

  I don't see how The Magus could be translated to the movie screen...(kazar)

  It couldn't. It was dismal. I had read the book as well, later rented the movie, regreted the coin I spent. Ken Follet's "Pillars of the Earth" is a great read. Starz's mini-seris did not do it justice. Even with good intentions many books are ravaged when taken to the screen.

  Frank Herbert's "Dune" was a ghastly movie. Sci-Fi's mini-seris excellent. A revisit of books from years past is always an eye opener. Heh, heh, sometimes you wonder what drew to a book first time around.
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  Twitch

  Terry, yes, Sci-Fi's rendition of Dune was very well done, true to the tone and "feel" of the books and a well translated look in my mind's eye. Quality programming. Dune is a favorite and I recall reading the rest of the series with the fervor of a Fedaykin. God Emperor of Dune was intense and profound for me at the time, having recently left the "fold". Perhaps a reread is due of a select few.
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  Twitch

  Your book sounds like a trip and and worthy of a peek methinks. Curious though, have you ever read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance?
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  BizzyBee

  Rule 1: Movies are never as good as the book.

  I used to annually re-read for several years two short novels: Brave New World and Catcher in the Rye.

  Quite a commitment to re-read a 600 page novel!
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  Open mind

  Thanks for the recommendation Terry!

  You turned me onto Cormac and he did not disappoint, so I'll give this guy a try too.

  om