The Magician by W. Somerset Maugham is a novel detailing a narrative about an English surgeon, Arthur Burdon. The characters and settings of the story are based on real people and scenes. The story begins with Arthur traveling to Paris to visit his lover, Margaret Dauncey. Margaret is an orphan and Arthur funds her education in Parisian school where she studies art. While at France, Margaret living in a studio belonging to Susie Boyd. During his first day in France, he meets a self-proclaimed magician, Oliver Haddo. The character of Haddo is based on a dark magician, Aleister Crowley, whom Maugham met on his trip to Paris.
Haddo is so obsessed with magic stories and regularly talks about the lives of renowned magicians. At some point, he starts falling for Margaret. Initially, Margaret turns down his advances. However, Haddo uses his magical power to lure her. Finally, she gives in and the two elope to the unknown destination. Arthur is left devastated and returns to England to concentrate on his career. The author also presents a retired surgeon, Dr Porhoet, who is a mentor of Arthur. Despite being a famous doctor, Porhoet supports Haddo’s magical tales and insists he experienced magic events when he was working in Egypt.
The story culminates with the death of Margaret where Arthur and his friends suspect to have been orchestrated by Haddo. Arthur vows to revenge Margaret’s death. Later, he claims to have killed Haddo. However, when Susie lights a candle, Haddo’s body is not there. Arthur and his peers visit Haddo’s home where they discover that he was using glass tubes in an attempt to create living beings.
