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The Magician's Wife (1965 novel)
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Wikipedia article
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'The Magicians Wife' is a novel by James M. Cain published in 1965 by Dial Press. Skenazy, 1989 p. 188
In plot and theme, the work is a near facsimile of Cains 1934 critical and popular success, 'The Postman Always Rings Twice'.Skenazy, 1989 p. 113: ...many of Cains novels seem rewrites of previous material . The Magicians Wife imitates 'Postman'... And p. 121: ...almost a rewrite of PostmanMadden, 1970 p. 58: 'The Magicians Wife'...modeled on 'The Postman'... And p. 62: ...the same formula as his 1934 novel.
'The Magicians Wife' is one of only three of Cains fourteen novels published in his lifetime that he wrote in the third-person narrative form; the others are 'Mildred Pierce' (1941) and 'Love's Lovely Counterfeit' (1942). The bulk of his novels are written from his preferred first-person point of view.Hoopes, 1982 p. 548:
Despite Dial's efforts to revive Cains career with 'The Magicians Wife', it proved a commercial and critical disappointment. Cain would not see another of his novels published until 1975.Hoopes, 1982 p. 506-507
Plot Summary
Publication History
Cain modeled 'The Magicians Wife' on the same formula he employed in his novels of the 1930s: An adulterous triangle, the murder of the husbandan animal abandon to sexuality, a fixation on eating [and] the two lovers turn on each other, and both die. Skenazy, 1989 p. 16: In 'The Magicians Wife', Cain attempts to return to the love triangle of adultery and violence that proved so successful in Postman. And p. 121
Cain began 'The Magicians Wife' as a first-person narrative, delivered by the lead protagonist, Clay Lockwood. He reconsidered after examining his 1941 novel Mildred Pierce and decided to switch the point-of-view of his work in progress to a third-person narrative.Hoopes, 1982 p. 485Madden, 1970 p. 134 This decision would contribute to the excessive verbiage that characterizes the novel.Skenazy, 1989 p. 121: ...the novel approaches self-parody. Cains decision to write in the third-person, rather than in first-person, results in excessive verbiage.
The editorial management at Dial was in disarray when Cain began writing The Magicians Wife in 1963. Jim Silberman Dials editor, left for Random House, and Dial saw a succession of chief editors: Richard Baron, Henry Robbins, and E. L. Doctorow, limiting the timely guidance Cain requested for revisions. Hoopes, 1982 p. 474, p. 484: Hoopes, 1982 p. 484: Dial had an option on Cains next book when began writing 'The Magicians Wife'.
A first draft of 'The Magicians Wife' was completed in November of 1963, and Cain sent it to his agent Ivan von Auw. HIs response was cool, questioning the credibility of the characters. Cain rewrote the novel, changing the ending from a happy one into one that involves a double homicide and the death of the hero. Dial approved the revised version for publication pending some unspecified changes. The newest chief editor, E. L. Doctorow, demanded detailed edits, and according to Cain, gave him a writing lesson. By early 1965, Cain was making major revisions to The Magicians Wife, though Dial appeared to be indifferent as to whether completed the novel or not.Hoopes, 1982 p. 485-486: ...Auws reservations' about the work.
During this period, Dial published Norman Mailers 'An American Dream' (1965). In critic Tom Wolfes 'New York Herald Tribune' Book Week review of the work, he commented that Mailers literary style emulated that of James M. Cain, but regretted that he could not match Cain in writing dialogue, creating characters, or carrying character through a long storyHoopes, 1982 p. 487-488
This high praise from a Wolfe, a darling of the devotees of New Yorks New Journalism prompted Dial to capitalize on this rediscovery of Cains oeuvre, and moved quickly to publish 'The Magicians Wife' in 1965, investing in a major promotion of the novel.Hoopes, 1982 p. 488, p. 506: ...extensive advertising campaign.
Critical Assessment
'The Magicians Wife', which plot-wise is almost a rewrite of 'The Postman Always Rings Twice', lacks the 1934 novels deft rendering of character. In 'The Magicians Wife' Cain requires lengthy expressions to convey insights into his protagonist's backgrounds and motivations.Skenazy, 1989 p. 122-123Madden, 1970 p. 58: 'The Magicians Wife' received with contemptCain admitted It wasnt too good an effort. And p. 62: ...an almost complete lack of success The novel is a flabby, mangled version of the same basic structure employed by Cain in his 1934 'magnum opus' 'The Postman Always Rings Twice'.Madden, 1970 p. 132 And p. 173Hoopes, 1982 p. 488: The Magicians Wife is one of Cains most interesting - but exasperating- books.
Despite efforts to rescue Cain from literary obscurity, the reviews for 'The Magicians Wife' were mixed, and the sales mediocre. A reviewer at 'Time' declared that Cains body of work was always bordering on a trash heap but had advanced to pure trash with his latest publication.Hoopes, 1982 p. 506; ...sales were disappointing Despite efforts by his agent Harold Norling Swanson, the film studios emphatically rejected the novel.
According to biographer Roy Hoopes, 'The Magicians Wife' brought the curtain down on Cains efforts to make something of himself as a serious writer... Cain would not see published another of his book for ten years, though he continued to write them.Hoopes, 1982 p. 506-507Madden, 1970 p. 58-59: On Cains decline as a writer and social critic.
Footnotes
Sources
*Hoopes, Roy. 1982. 'Cain.' Holt, Reinhart and Winston. New York.
*Madden, David. 1970. 'James M. Cain'. Twayne Publishers, Inc. Library Catalog Card Number: 78-120011.
*Skenazy, Paul. 1989. James M. Cain. Continuum Publishing Company. New York.
Category:1965 novels
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