The Magician (1909)
Title
The Magician (1909)
Creator
Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset), 1874-1965
Publisher
Duffield & Company
Date
1909-02
Description
Maugham revised the US edition of The Magician, the textual difference doesn't appear in other editions.
Summary:
Set in Paris; Arthur Burdon arrives to visit his fiancée Margaret Dauncey, who has gone there to study art, chaperoned by Susie Boyd, a typical Maugham character, cold and detached observing people and life in general with a heart of gold. However, she is also slightly different, because she gets emotionally involved towards her friend's fiancé Arthur. They meet Oliver Haddo, a repulsive obese big mouth who can talk well nevertheless, and somehow he seems to follow them around.
The subject is magic and necromancy, with a minor character Dr. Porhoët, researcher also in necromancy, to counter the black arts of Haddo. After a very well-described humiliating scene in which Arthur thrashes Haddo like a dog, the latter (Haddo, not the dog) takes his revenge by mesmerizing Margaret to yearn for him uncontrollably and thus stealing Arthur's love of his life. Then the narrative plunges into the mysterious.
Characters:
Arthur Burdon
Dr. Porhoët
Margaret Dauncey
Susie Boyd
Oliver Haddo
Warren - painter
Jagson - painter
Marie - waitress at Chien Noir
Mr. O'Brien - painter
Rouge - illustrator
Madame Rouge - Rouge's mistress
Madame Rouge's mother
Madame Meyer - mistress to a landscape painter
Raggles - painter
Clayson - American sculptor
Collation:
p. [iii] half-title, p. [v] title, p. [vi] copyright, p. [1] fly-title, pp. [3]-310 main text
Format
19.5 x 12.5 cm, hardcover
Subject
Magic -- Fiction.
Paris (France) -- Fiction.
Identifier
Stott A11c
MMC_N_M1909DC
Type
Text
Rights
Public domain
Language
en
Image
Edition
First American edition
Publisher's Location
New York
Format
Print book
Genre
Novel
Cover
#1C3A3C (Te Papa Green), with decoration
Dust Jacket
No
Year of Acquisition
2015
Original Cost
US$1.50 in 1909
Collection
Citation
Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset), 1874-1965, “The Magician (1909),” My Maugham Collection, accessed May 6, 2024, https://mymaughamcollection.omeka.net/items/show/15.