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The Magician: Together with a Fragment of Autobiography
In Paris around 1900, Arthur and Margaret are engaged to be married. Everyone approves and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. Until Oliver Haddo appears. Sinister and repulsive, Haddo fascinates Margaret's spinster friend, Susie Boyd. Yet it is not Susie who ultimately falls prey to his peculiar charm. It is Margaret, and a fate worse than death awaits her in the fo
...more
Paperback
,
200 pages
Published
November 1st 1992
by Penguin Classics
(first published 1908)
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Arthur Burdon is due to marry his fiance, Margaret Dauncey. The pair have the misfortune of meeting Oliver Haddo, a self-styled magician and pompous ass. When Arthur assaults Haddo, the Magician hatches a plan to ruin Arthur's life in the most insidious of ways...
The Magician is a tale of revenge, seduction, and things of that nature, written by Maugham after he met Aleister Crowley. It's pretty much a horror novel, honestly.
Oliver Haddo is a revolting character that made my skin crawl and his ...more
The Magician is a tale of revenge, seduction, and things of that nature, written by Maugham after he met Aleister Crowley. It's pretty much a horror novel, honestly.
Oliver Haddo is a revolting character that made my skin crawl and his ...more
view all 10 comments
The Magician
may not be Maugham's most known work, but it's my favourite so far.
Arthur and Margaret are about to marry when the sinister Oliver Haddo comes into their lives. Haddo is known for practising ocultism and to deal with the dark arts. At first, Arthur doesn't take him seriously; when strange things concerned with Margaret start taking place, Arthur is forced to realize that maybe he should have taken care not to offend the man who is known as a magician.
After having read two of Maugham ...more
Arthur and Margaret are about to marry when the sinister Oliver Haddo comes into their lives. Haddo is known for practising ocultism and to deal with the dark arts. At first, Arthur doesn't take him seriously; when strange things concerned with Margaret start taking place, Arthur is forced to realize that maybe he should have taken care not to offend the man who is known as a magician.
After having read two of Maugham ...more
IN THESE MATTERS ALL IS OBSCURITY
"If I died tomorrow, every penny I have would be yours" – so spricht Arthur, gestandener Arzt, zu seinem Mündel Margaret, und unterstützt sie zustätzlich monatlich mit einer Summe, die der jungen Frau ein sorgloses Leben in Paris ermöglicht, jener Stadt, in der auch Maugham als junger Mann sich als Bohemien versucht hat. Ach, sagte das doch auch einmal jemand zu mir, aber so etwas geschieht vorzugsweise bei Courths-Maler und eben hier bei Maugham.
Arthur und Marg ...more
"If I died tomorrow, every penny I have would be yours" – so spricht Arthur, gestandener Arzt, zu seinem Mündel Margaret, und unterstützt sie zustätzlich monatlich mit einer Summe, die der jungen Frau ein sorgloses Leben in Paris ermöglicht, jener Stadt, in der auch Maugham als junger Mann sich als Bohemien versucht hat. Ach, sagte das doch auch einmal jemand zu mir, aber so etwas geschieht vorzugsweise bei Courths-Maler und eben hier bei Maugham.
Arthur und Marg ...more
Paris zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhunderts. Der junge Chirurg Arthur Burdon besucht sein Mündel Margaret, die gleichzeitig seine Verlobte ist. Sie wohnt mit ihrer ca. 10 Jahre älteren Freundin Susie Boyd zusammen, die wie sie selbst in Paris Kunst studiert. Es herrscht heile Welt, das Paar ist glücklich, die alleinstehende Susie durch ein Erbe gut versorgt. Auftritt Oliver Haddo, ein weitgereister, arroganter Zeitgenosse, der angeblich magische Kräfte besitzt. Doch inwiefern stellt er eine Bedrohung f
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Mit Freude habe ich dieses Buch in einer Lesegruppe begonnen, soll die Hauptfigur ja dem legendären und spannenden Aleister Crowley nachgezeichnet sein. Nach Beendigung der Lektüre bin ich mehr als enttäuscht und muss mir hier durchaus den Hinweis verkneifen, der sicher als goldene Regel jedem Jungautor auf dem Weg mitgegeben wird: "Junge schreib über Sachen, die Du verstehst bzw. die Du selbst erlebt hast."
Die Hauptakteure erinnern fast ein bisschen an Dostojewskis Adeligensalons - Bürgerliche, ...more
Die Hauptakteure erinnern fast ein bisschen an Dostojewskis Adeligensalons - Bürgerliche, ...more
This is certainly a novel worth persevering with. The beginning is dare I say dull, and for a little while it drags, but then suddenly it develops into a truly gripping read. The awfully sinister Oliver Haddo is a sly practitioner of the occult, who appears to use his skill to ruin the lives of a couple of good and innocent souls. An excellent read.
What a surprising, interesting book. After reading all of W. Somerset Maugham's most celebrated works several times over, and delving eagerly into his lesser-known (though not necessarily lesser in quality) material afterwards, this is the first one to completely surprise me.
The book is preceded, happily, by a foreword, "The Fragment of Autobiography," in which Maugham admits that the character of Oliver Haddo is indeed based on Aleister Crowley. He pulls no punches in his assessment of the real ...more
The book is preceded, happily, by a foreword, "The Fragment of Autobiography," in which Maugham admits that the character of Oliver Haddo is indeed based on Aleister Crowley. He pulls no punches in his assessment of the real ...more
This book has a very slow start but then picks up into something horrifying. I just wanted it all to be over. It's so dark and freaky. The descriptions have you holding your breathe for it to end quickly. If you like horror then highly recommend. If you are squeamish then may not be of your liking. First time reading this author and he can make your skin crawl. One of the nastiest antagonist in literature.
Kein Schriftsteller beherrschte sein Handwerk besser
steht auf der Rückseite meine Ausgabe, die in der Bibliothek der Süddeutschen Zeitung erschienen ist. Allerdings meinte Raymond Chandler damit sicherlich nicht den Verfasser des Magiers, denn diese von ein paar schwächlichen eigenen Einfällen zusammengehaltene Montage taugt nicht einmal als Gesellenstück und verhält sich zu seinen späteren Romanen wie Haddos Homunculi zu echten Menschen. Im Hinblick auf das Gesamtwerk gibt es zwar gewisse stru
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Maugham's novel
The Magician
is an aesthetic disaster. From the fumbling realism at the beginning of the novel to the childishly Gothic fable that it turns into, the book seems to lack structure, design and well developed characters.
Maugham himself, on reading the book later, described it as “lush and turgid.” Cluttered with adjectives, the writing, bordering on being kitschy, does little to gloss over a story that is formulaic and shallow.
The plot is facile and it is no surprise that it was m ...more
Maugham himself, on reading the book later, described it as “lush and turgid.” Cluttered with adjectives, the writing, bordering on being kitschy, does little to gloss over a story that is formulaic and shallow.
The plot is facile and it is no surprise that it was m ...more
"The Magician" is a captivating story.
Margaret is engaged to Arthur, a well-off English surgeon. Margaret shares a Paris flat with Susie. One evening, they meet Oliver Haddo, a very large, very odd man, around whom the most unusual stories swarm.
Basically, Oliver is a magician, who uses his powers to lure Margaret away from Arthur, which pisses everyone off, and leads to a showdown.
When "The Magician" was published, Aleister Crowley wrote a review, contending that Maugham had plagiarized the st ...more
Margaret is engaged to Arthur, a well-off English surgeon. Margaret shares a Paris flat with Susie. One evening, they meet Oliver Haddo, a very large, very odd man, around whom the most unusual stories swarm.
Basically, Oliver is a magician, who uses his powers to lure Margaret away from Arthur, which pisses everyone off, and leads to a showdown.
When "The Magician" was published, Aleister Crowley wrote a review, contending that Maugham had plagiarized the st ...more
I hadn't read this for some time, on this latest reading I have downgraded it to 2 stars. It's really just a piece of poor Victorian Gothic horror. Perhaps Maugham was amusing himself. It could be considered a piece of camp humour in the vein of the Hammer House and Carry On films.
“Yet magic is no more the art of employing consciously invisible means to produce visible effects. Will, love, and imagination are magic powers that everyone possesses; and whoever knows how to develop them to their fullest extent is a magician. Magic has but one dogma, namely, that the seen is the measure of the unseen.”
I think this is my favourite Maugham, a book about the creepy figure that was Oliver Haddo aka Aleister Crowley, in the early 1900's, between London and Paris.( Also, am I the ...more
I think this is my favourite Maugham, a book about the creepy figure that was Oliver Haddo aka Aleister Crowley, in the early 1900's, between London and Paris.( Also, am I the ...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Jan 06, 2015
Aisling
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
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I'm not entirely sure what to make of The Magician. It's written beautifully, it is unsettling at times, sometimes it drags and other times it's rushed, but altogether it's very good.
Unfortunately, a large plot point was spoiled for me by another review, so I knew what to expect. Thankfully, the whole novel is saturated with mystery, so there was more to be enjoyed.
The character of Oliver Haddo truly is repulsive, and Maugham manages to communicate his cruelty effectively without ever really sho ...more
Unfortunately, a large plot point was spoiled for me by another review, so I knew what to expect. Thankfully, the whole novel is saturated with mystery, so there was more to be enjoyed.
The character of Oliver Haddo truly is repulsive, and Maugham manages to communicate his cruelty effectively without ever really sho ...more
Jun 04, 2013
Laura
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
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Free download available at
Project Gutenberg
An astonishing gothic story written by Somerset Maugham.
Location 122:
Dr Porhöet knew that a diversity of interests, though it adds charm to a mans personality, tends to weaken him.
Location 140:
One of my cherished ideas is that it is impossible to love without imagination.
Location 277:
She had learnt long ago that common sense, intelligence, good-nature, and strenght of character were unimportant in comparison with a pretty face.
Location 384:
I shall not ...more
An astonishing gothic story written by Somerset Maugham.
Location 122:
Dr Porhöet knew that a diversity of interests, though it adds charm to a mans personality, tends to weaken him.
Location 140:
One of my cherished ideas is that it is impossible to love without imagination.
Location 277:
She had learnt long ago that common sense, intelligence, good-nature, and strenght of character were unimportant in comparison with a pretty face.
Location 384:
I shall not ...more
Das Buch hat eine sehr düstere Atmosphäre, die mich ein wenig an 'Dracula' von Bram Stoker erinnert. Das Vorbild zu dem Magier lieferte Aleister Crowley.
Не съм доволна от тази история на Моъм. Един магьосник прави експерименти за създаване на хора. За целта прецаква всичко живо по пътя си. Доста противни неща имаше и като цяло не беше интересно, нито силно психологическо. Силата на Моъм е в историите, където може много да се научи за взаимоотношенията между хората в различни житейски етапи и ситуации. Това ми липсваше. И макар да не е съвсем зле тази книга ѝ давам 2 звездички, защото Моъм винаги ме е карал да немея и да го чета с кеф и нетърпени
...more
Aug 29, 2012
Laura
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
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I adored this book. I could visualize every scene and when you realize that Maugham had actually lived with Aleister Crowley it makes the book even more terrifying. The scene toward the end of the book with the hommunculi was completely prescient. It perfectly predicted our fears of human clones.
Nicht wirklich was für mich. Es hat mich nicht berührt, eher gelangweilt.
Der MAGIER wird als Witzfigur dargestellt, der Inhalt ist mir zu dramatisch und schwülstig. Hier ein kleiner Auszug, was mir z.B nicht gefällt:
"Es war eine Musik, wie Margaret sie nie gehört hatte, wild, mit einem unheimlichen Unterton der Klage, der in ihrer Phantasie mondhelle Nächte in Wüstengegenden, reglose Palmen in windstiller Luft und braungelbe Fernen heraufbeschwor. Sie schien von engen Straßen zu wissen, von weiß ...more
Der MAGIER wird als Witzfigur dargestellt, der Inhalt ist mir zu dramatisch und schwülstig. Hier ein kleiner Auszug, was mir z.B nicht gefällt:
"Es war eine Musik, wie Margaret sie nie gehört hatte, wild, mit einem unheimlichen Unterton der Klage, der in ihrer Phantasie mondhelle Nächte in Wüstengegenden, reglose Palmen in windstiller Luft und braungelbe Fernen heraufbeschwor. Sie schien von engen Straßen zu wissen, von weiß ...more
W. Somerset Maugham is consistently one of the most fascinating writers I've ever read.
Maugham's caricature of Aleister Crowley (Oliver Haddo) is brilliant and, no doubt, accurate. Maugham says in his preface that Crowley recognised himself. I'm sure he did. He was probably even flattered in spite of Maugham's blatantly unflattering portrait. Maugham says he never read the review by 'Oliver Haddo' (Aleister Crowley) in Vanity Fair and wishes he had. I have read it and enjoyed it immensely. I love it when two very smart men clash. Maugham has definitely researched his subject and g
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This simple little novel was inspired by Maugham's brief acquaintance with the notorious occultist
Aleister Crowley
in Paris in 1907. And it is unlike anything else of his that I've read. It begins in typical Maugham territory by describing the bohemian art community in Paris, but it gradually mutates into pulp horror territory ending up with scenes more reminiscent of
H.P. Lovecraft
. Along the way there is much fascinating discussion of the principles and history of occultism. How much of this
...more
I was really looking forward to this book as it is set in 'bohemian cafe society of Paris' at the end of 19th century, and everyone who knows me knows that I adore nothing more than Paris and it's people. I was also interested in how the book was going to deal with the occult and magic. But this book failed to catch my interest and actually took me 3 month to read.
The start was bit slow but it was quite nice as you got to meet all the characters and were introduced to the time and era. The chara ...more
The start was bit slow but it was quite nice as you got to meet all the characters and were introduced to the time and era. The chara ...more
This was so worth reading, flawed as it is, in order to get a glimpse into a historic moment when neo-Jeckyll-Hyde-ish sciencey ghost stories were so popular that a writer wishing to "sell out" would choose the Victorian culture surrounding the idea one can manipulate soul/spirit/science for genre/setting. S Maugham does a fine job impersonating any genre, even if it's not the one he writes in most authentically. Also to see Maugham's span, between this v early book and, say, Razor's Edge, is to
...more
The Magician is one of Maugham's early works. Even though it contains some marvelous features of Maugham, it stands away from most of his other works. The descriptive language that marks Maugham's style is as good as any other of his books. In fact, by choosing a doctor as his protagonist, he achieves a higher level in vivid descriptions.
(view spoiler)
...more
Sep 24, 2011
Tim Pendry
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
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The Penguin edition is not being reviewed here. This is the Vintage Edition. The only difference in practice is that this does not have Calder’s introduction but has a short and somewhat languid autobiographical sketch from Maugham himself.
Written around 1907 before he began to make serious money as a playwright, this exhibits all the strengths and weaknesses of Maugham.
The strengths are (in general and allowing for a few moments where he shifts in to the purple-conventional) his exceptional abi ...more
Written around 1907 before he began to make serious money as a playwright, this exhibits all the strengths and weaknesses of Maugham.
The strengths are (in general and allowing for a few moments where he shifts in to the purple-conventional) his exceptional abi ...more
The Magician
describes the relationships between two women and a man, and how these relationships are affected by their meeting with the magician of the title.
Margaret and Susie share rooms in Paris. Arthur Burdon is Margaret's fiance. Burdon is a renowned surgeon; his mentor is the retired doctor and occult scholar Dr. Porhoët. Porhoët introduces Oliver Haddo to his friends; Haddo is an occultist, a magician - loosely based on Aleister Crowley, "the wickedest man in the world", whom Maugham ha ...more
Margaret and Susie share rooms in Paris. Arthur Burdon is Margaret's fiance. Burdon is a renowned surgeon; his mentor is the retired doctor and occult scholar Dr. Porhoët. Porhoët introduces Oliver Haddo to his friends; Haddo is an occultist, a magician - loosely based on Aleister Crowley, "the wickedest man in the world", whom Maugham ha ...more
I would love for independent game developers to produce a Castlevania-themed "port" of this book, because it's basically just Dracula with Aleister Crowley. It even ends with Crowley's evil castle CRUMBLING TO DUST, REVEALING THE SUNSHINE. Good descriptions of fancy clothes and some fun hijinx early on with Oliver Haddo, but the characters are laughably thin, description is vague or absurd (Haddo's magickal laboratory has ordinary lab equipment, EXCEPT IT'S GIANT, as mages use), and by the end,
...more
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William Somerset Maugham was born in Paris in 1874. He spoke French even before he spoke a word of English, a fact to which some critics attribute the purity of his style.
His parents died early and, after an unhappy boyhood, which he recorded poignantly in 'Of Human Bondage' , Maugham became a qualified physician. But writing was his true vocation. For ten years before his first success, he alm ...more
More about W. Somerset Maugham...
His parents died early and, after an unhappy boyhood, which he recorded poignantly in 'Of Human Bondage' , Maugham became a qualified physician. But writing was his true vocation. For ten years before his first success, he alm ...more
“Yet magic is no more the art of employing consciously invisible means to produce visible effects. Will, love, and imagination are magic powers that everyone possesses; and whoever knows how to develop them to their fullest extent is a magician. Magic has but one dogma, namely, that the seen is the measure of the unseen.”
—
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