Books › The Magician
The Magician
324 pages
A chilling descent from the bright cafes of bohemian Paris into the suffocating grip of occult obsession.
What it feels like
Reading this novel feels like sitting in a brightly lit Parisian cafe while a cold shadow slowly creeps across your table. It begins with the elegant, cynical observation of bohemian society, but steadily warps into a claustrophobic nightmare of psychological domination. The prose remains crisp and rational even as the narrative plunges into the irrational depths of the occult, creating a deeply unsettling contrast. You are pulled along by a creeping sense of dread, watching helplessly as innocence is corrupted by a mesmerizing, repulsive force. It is a perfect read for those who love the decadent, slow-burn horror of the Edwardian era, offering a chilling exploration of how easily the rational mind can be broken by dark, obsessive power.
- Mood
- decadent
- claustrophobic
- sinister
- dread-soaked
- Tone
- cynical
- observant
- melodramatic
- chilling
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- corruption of innocence · psychological domination · rationality versus the occult · obsession and control
- The writing
- Elegant, precise, and sharply observant, grounding gothic excess in chillingly realistic psychological detail.
- The arc
- Moves from the comfortable rationality of bohemian society into a suffocating nightmare of helpless terror and obsession.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love classic Edwardian horror and slow-burn tales of psychological manipulation and the occult.
Content notes
- psychological manipulation
- loss of bodily autonomy
- occult rituals
- violence
About the book
Stunningly rejacketed as part of a major reinvention of this neglected 20th century masterSet in the bohemian cafe society of Paris at the turn of the nineteenth century, Maugham's exploration of hypnotism and the occult was inspired by the sinister black magician Aleister Crowley. At the start of this compulsive gothic horror story, Arthur and his beautiful, innocent fiancee Margaret look forward to an idyllic life together, until they encounter the mesmerising and repulsive Oliver Haddo...
Description from Open Library.
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