The first edition, first impression of this work in the vibrant publisher's original price unclipped dust wrapper, illustrated by Tom Adams.'The Magus' is John Fowles's postmodern novel about Nicholas Urfe, a young man who is teaching English on a small Greek island and becomes embroiled in the psychological illusions of a master trickster.Considered an example of metafiction, this was Fowles first written novel, but his third to be published. The first edition of John Fowles's celebrated postmodern novel, reviewed by the Sunday Times as a 'deliciously toothsome celebration of wanton story-telling'. Reg Gadney, himself a novelist, was the second husband of Fay Maschler, first wife of John Fowles's editor at Cape, Tom Maschler. It still slightly puzzles me how I could have written it.' He issued a revised version in 1977. For Fowles himself, it was 'the first one I wrote still, I think, excites me more than the others.

For some readers, it is Fowles's best book. 'Even so powerful a novel as The Collector does not prepare us for the manifold, compulsive fascination of John Fowles's The Magus . . .' (publisher's blurb). First UK edition (first published by Little, Brown 1965 ), inscribed by the author on the title-page, with no signature, 'Reg Gadney with sincerest good wishes Lyme Regis Sunday, 14.3.99'. Top edge very slightly marked, fore-edge a little spotted and thumbed, dustwrapper (by Tom Adams) slightly frayed at head and tail of spine, and with very mild wear at corners, front flap a little marked.

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