Set in Bohemian Paris at the turn of the century, The Magician was inspired by the notorious and sinister black magician Aleister Crowley.
It was written in response to the considerable interest then being taken in Satanism, magic and the occult. It is not only a fascinating picture of Parisian café society, but also extends the them of bondage - a favourite of Maugham's - to explore the notions of psychic domination and hypnotic slavery.
