The Magus

By: John Fowles

Narrated by: Charles Dance, Full Cast, Hayley Atwell, Tom Burke

Nicholas Urfe, a young British graduate, runs away from his monotonous life to take up a teaching post on the small Greek island of Phraxos. There he meets the enigmatic figure of Maurice Conchis, and slowly gets drawn into a world full of strange encounters and psychological tricks on Conchis's estate at Bourani.

When Conchis introduces Nicholas to the enchanting and mysterious Lily Montgomery, reality and illusion begin to intertwine. But what strange game is Conchis playing with Nicholas? And, in this world coloured by artifice and deception, who is really telling him the truth?

First published in 1965, John Fowles's novel The Magus soon gained cult status. Now acclaimed dramatist and screenwriter Adrian Hodges (My Week with Marilyn, The Go-Between, Peter and Wendy, The Musketeers, Survivors, Primeval) has adapted the novel for this new dramatisation starring Tom Burke (War and Peace, The Musketeers) as Nicholas Urfe, Charles Dance (And Then There Were None, Game of Thrones) as Maurice Conchis, and Hayley Atwell (Agent Carter, Brideshead Revisited) as Lily.

Produced and directed by Heather Larmour.

©2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2018 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Listening to the book was enormously enlightening.

I will listen to this over and over, both for the text and for the wonderful.narration
Brilliant acting

Fantastic adaption of a classic novel

One of the most thought-provoking dramas I have heard in many years. This will leave you thinking for days and weeks after finishing.

Now pick up the book and read!

Highly recommend the actual book after listening to this wonderful, theatrical abridged performance. Audible presentation; so much better than the lackluster movie that was produced. Read the book over 50 years ago and it’s still thrilling and mysterious as the first time.

Phenomenal

Now I must listen to the book, which is likely even better. Well done.

Atmospheric

Taste of Greece and Shakespeare. I enjoyed listening to it. But definitely not for everyone

Stunning.

Incredibly, a complex psychological novel has been beautifully and expertly adapted for a fantastic and substantial audio drama. Excellent cast and performances. Would urge all to read the book as well. Really, this production was excellent.

I wish I had bought the book…

…to get some value out of it by using its pages as toilet paper.

Credit where it’s due: It’s written well enough that it left me wanting to slap the stupid out of the main character. And it was probably ground breaking in 1965.

It simply has no place in anyone’s current collection because, thankfully, that style of storytelling is now considered amateurish and shallow.

Because it is.

That said, the acting and production are top shelf.