{{Short description|1976 psychological horror novel by William Goldman}} {{about|the 1976 horror novel by William Goldman|similarly named topics|Magic (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{infobox book | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Novels or Wikipedia:WikiProject_Books --> | name = Magic: A Novel | image = WilliamGoldman Magic.jpg | caption = First edition | author = William Goldman | cover_artist = Richard Huebner<ref>[https://www.flickr.com/photos/13313279@N04/sets/72157625652290628/show/ Modern first editions - a set on Flickr]</ref> | country = United States | language = English | series = | genre = | publisher = Delacorte Press | release_date = August 1976 | media_type = Print (Paperback, Hardcover) | pages = 243 pp | isbn = 0-440-05159-2 | dewey = 813/.5/4 | congress = PZ4.G635 Mag PS3557.O384 | oclc = 2415446 | followed_by = }}
'''''Magic''''' is a psychological horror novel written by William Goldman. It was published in the United States in August 1976 by Delacorte Press. In 1978 Richard Attenborough directed a feature film adaptation of the story that starred Anthony Hopkins and Ann-Margret.
== Plot summary== The novel concerns a man named Corky Withers, a shy, odd-tempered and alcoholic magician, whose lackluster performances start to turn around when he adds a foul-mouthed ventriloquist's dummy, Fats, to the show. It chronicles Corky's childhood and adolescence, and his deep love for a high-school crush named Peggy Ann Snow.
The novel is written kaleidoscopically, changing time period, location, and point of view swiftly and leaving important information, such as the identity of Fats the dummy, unknown for extended periods of time.
==Background== Goldman had the idea for a novel about a ventriloquist for a number of years before writing it.<ref>Egan p 130</ref>
He says his editor suggested he cut the sequence where Corky's father talks about seeing Bronko Nagurski making a comeback in a football game, which Goldman had seen as a boy, but the author refused because he was so moved by it.<ref>Richard Andersen, ''William Goldman'', Twayne Publishers, 1979 p 100-101</ref>
==Reception== Producer Joseph E. Levine paid $1 million for the film rights and to do the screenplay.<ref name="books">"WESTWARD THEY COME, BIG BUCKS FOR BIG BOOKS" Rosenfield, Paul. ''Los Angeles Times'' 18 Feb 1979: n1.</ref><ref>"Levine Buys Film Rights To William Goldman Novel" ''New York Times'' 3 Mar 1976: 27.</ref> The novel was well-received.<ref>"William Goldman pulls 'Magic' out of elliptical hat", Wolff, Geoffrey. ''Los Angeles Times'' 3 Oct 1976: q1.</ref>
==Adaptations== * ''Magic'' (1978), film directed by Richard Attenborough * ''5 Minutes'' (2018), short film directed by Javan Garza
==References== {{reflist}} *Egan, Sean, ''William Goldman: The Reluctant Storyteller'', Bear Manor Media 2014
==External links== * {{IMDb name|1279|William Goldman}}
{{William Goldman}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Magic (Novel)}} Category:1976 American novels Category:1976 English-language novels Category:1970s horror novels Category:American horror novels Category:American psychological novels Category:Epistolary novels Category:Psychological horror Category:Nonlinear narrative novels Category:Novels set in New York (state) Category:Novels about magic (supernatural) Category:American novels adapted into films Category:Horror novels adapted into films Category:Novels by William Goldman {{1970s-epistolary-novel-stub}} {{1970s-horror-novel-stub}}