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1966 Fowles Letter to High
School Student Sheds Light on The Magus
In
April of 1966, shortly after The Magus was published in
the U.S., a high school senior living in New York wrote to John
Fowles and asked about "the meaning of the book." I'm sure
Fowles received hundreds if not thousands of such letters over
the years asking the same question, which is understandable to
anyone who has read The Magus. Equally
understandable, given the nature of the book and the nature of
Fowles himself, is that answers were not forthcoming. This
particular student, however, received a very unique reply.
Fowles begins with the usual disclaimer but then, amazingly,
directly discusses two interpretations of the book. The
letter now resides in the Fowles archives at the University of
Texas at Austin Ransom Center, and is reproduced here with
permission of its original owner. Below are her recent
comments about the letter, along with a copy of both it and
Fowles' response.
"I
wrote the letter to John Fowles, 3 months before my 18th
birthday, and a few months before I graduated General Douglas
MacArthur HS in Wantagh, New York. I remember being haunted,
obsessed, confused, and horrified by the book. It was, and
remains, the only letter I've ever written to an author. It's
been many years since I read the book. I've just found a
used copy of the revised version, and plan to read it again.
I have spent a good deal of my life on a similar journey of
spiritual exploration, spent several years living in Scotland,
traveled extensively in Greece, and now reside in Alaska working
as a psychotherapist with victims of trauma. I have kept
Mr. Fowles' letter among my diaries and special papers and every
couple of years rediscover it and wonder at how the patterns and
discoveries in my life have intertwined with the versions of
reality and eleutheria presented in that book I read as a high
school senior.
The tenor of the reply letter always seemed quite personal and
kind. Given that the 60's predated computers and home copy
machines, I appreciate that he wrote on and returned my original
letter. Having a context makes the reply that much more
connected and parallels the relationship between young seeker
and mage."
Tima Priess
Ester, Alaska
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