Talk:The Magus (novel)

Quote in Film Adaptation

In William Goldman's book Adventures in the Screen Trade (1983), he writes: "There is a very funny line, attributed to the late Peter Sellers, who was asked to answer the question "What would you change if you had your life to live over?" And Sellers replied, "I would do everything exactly the same except I wouldn't see The Magus.""

I would suggest Woody Allen is not the originator of the quote. Perhaps this can be corrected. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 189.6.112.69 (talk) 19:13, 7 May 2017 (UTC)

In the Wikipedia article about the film, the quote is attributed to Peter Sellers (citing William Goldman). In the Wikipedia article about the 1973 film of "Lost Horizon," the quote is attributed to Woody Allen, but as having been said about the 1973 film of "Lost Horizon." No attribution is given for the latter. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.92.0.57 (talk) 18:02, 30 October 2021 (UTC)

Good Book

This has nothing to do with the article (and should probably be deleted), but has anyone read this? It is easily one of the best and richest books I've ever read, and is especially exceptional for a first novel. It seems almost forgotten today, though. ka1iban 15:43, 28 December 2005 (UTC)

I finished this book tonight, and it is a masterpiece of philosophy, suspense and catharsis. Reccommended.

This is the book that got me through the weird transitional post-adolescent phase of my life. It has been my favourite book for around 8 years now, and that's not likely to change soon. It is amazing. --Ashenai 10:16, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

Discussion! Yay! Yes, this is a really great book and interestingly was apparently his first; the Collector was written after when he didn't think he could sell the Magus. I've always found the Collector to be a better character study but the Magus more engrossing, enigmatic and overall more satisfying (if in an unsatisfying way) ka1iban 14:24, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

Yes, I enjoyed the Collector... but it failed to transcend the "excellent book" category in my head. Have you read Daniel Martin, by the way? Definitely my second favourite Fowles book. And Mantissa would be a close third. I wouldn't recommend either to everyone, but if you made it through The Magus, you'll enjoy Daniel Martin, and if you enjoyed the enigmas, then you'll like Mantissa (though it leaves one with that hors-d'euvre feeling, whereas The Magus is a main course). --Ashenai 14:41, 16 February 2006 (UTC)

I'm trying to read them in order of publication, and I finished The French Lieutenant's Woman recently, so Daniel Martin should be up next. I was grossly disappointed by the film of FLW, though. I picked up a first printing of Mantissa at my local used book store a while back, and i've got it squirreled away for when I'm ready for it.

The above comments, though very interesting, belong in a forum.Lestrade (talk) 20:46, 17 March 2013 (UTC)Lestrade

Where would you recommend? Skweeds (talk) 17:54, 2 November 2013 (UTC)

Revision

The original is so great and has such an awesome ending but the revision is just not the same book, and is not so good. I guess that the only way to mention this is to go and find critics to site? I teach art to college students in chicago, and I use Fowles rewrite as an example of what not to do.

It would be great if someone could expand on the differences between the original and revised editions in this article. Not having read the revision, I can't do it myself. But I'd be very interested to know what, specifically, he changed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.197.23.143 (talk) 04:44, 14 June 2008 (UTC)

Plot section

The weaknest portion of this article is the lack of information in the spoiler section that captures the literary flavour of the book. Such comments need not be spoilers. For instance, the book does not take place only in Greece -- the major conclusion is back in England. Also, there are sexual, racial, social and other issues raised in the book that form a series of lessons or stages of development for the protagonist. Third, the concept of the "godgame" is not sufficiently described in the spoiler section: those who might wish to read the novel would probably find it intruiging to know that the "play" is not something formally staged, but that it begins to spread out into the protagonist's daily life. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.142.90.32 (talk • contribs)

First Edition

Quick question - the article mentions the first printing in the UK in 1966 but was the novel not published first in the US a year before? Is there a reason that is not the first edition mentioned? Cheers, --Septemberfourth476 (talk) 09:35, 2 May 2010 (UTC)

Plot section

Hi, This sentence doesn't seem to be accurate, so I'm going to edit it out: "..Alison Kelly, an Australian girl he meets at a party in London. To get away from an increasingly serious relationship with her, Nicholas accepts a post teaching English". Nicholas applied for this job after first having troubles finding employment, and then being unhappy with teaching in a school in England. This happens before he meets Alison. The relationship is not a reason for his departure to Greece, it just failed to prevent him from going.

So this is what I wrote instead:

After graduation, he briefly works as a teacher at a small school, but quickly becomes bored and decides to leave England. While looking for another job, Nicholas takes up with Alison Kelly, an Australian girl he meets at a party in London. The relationship fails to prevent him from accepting a post teaching English at the Lord Byron School

69.119.232.155 (talk) 01:05, 10 February 2013 (UTC)

Assessment comment

The comment(s) below were originally left at Talk:The Magus (novel)/Comments, and are posted here for posterity. Following several discussions in past years, these subpages are now deprecated. The comments may be irrelevant or outdated; if so, please feel free to remove this section.

There is far more that could be added to increase this article beyond the current "Start" class. :: Kevinalewis : (Talk Page)/(Desk) 12:47, 27 June 2007 (UTC)

Last edited at 12:47, 27 June 2007 (UTC). Substituted at 08:15, 30 April 2016 (UTC)

Representation in Other Media: William S Burroughs “Cities of The Red Knight”

In chapter 7, “The Private Asshole”: “I noticed a worn copy of The Magus by John Fowles…” it’s significant to the plot of a major work by a major American author. Significant enough for inclusion? 74.90.100.243 (talk) 17:26, 23 May 2023 (UTC)