The Magician

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What do Thomas’s experiences in the novel indicate about life as a gay person in the first half of the 20th century?

2. The Magician is the more recent of Colm Tóibín’s novels. If you’re familiar with his other works, such as Brooklyn or Nora Webster, how does The Magician compare to these works?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. After Thomas’s family moves out of Lübeck, he feels grief that he’ll never recover his former life. Have you ever felt a sense of loss when leaving a place, such as your childhood home, a beloved city, or a country? How and why did the move affect you?

2. In a letter to Thomas, his son Michael writes that while the world admires Thomas, he has wronged his children. Michael’s letter reflects his disillusionment with his father. Can you relate to Michael’s feelings? Has a mentor, parent, or authority figure ever disappointed you? How did you handle the situation?

3. Thomas longs to fit in with the world of the Pringsheims because they take his ambition as a novelist seriously. Have you ever felt a similar longing for a like-minded group? Did you find it?

4. Thomas initially refrains from speaking out against the Nazis because his in-laws are still in Germany. Do you agree with his decision? What would you have done in his position?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Although the events of The Magician end in 1955, can you see any similarities between the book’s political context and contemporary society?

2. The Magician often examines the role that ordinary Germans played in the rise and perpetuation of Nazi philosophy. What stance does the book assume on the topic?

3. Thomas notes that the flip side of nationalism is dangerous, uncritical veneration of one’s own country. Do you agree with him? Why or why not?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The Magician is a fictionalized biography. How did the fiction format influence your reading of the book? How would the experience have differed if the book were a work of nonfiction?

2. If you’ve read other biographical novels, such as Michael Cunningham’s The Hours, how does the Magician compare with them?

3. Discuss how the theme of finding an identity in exile plays out in the text. How do you think exile affects various characters?

4. The novel alludes to several of Thomas Mann’s works, such as Buddenbrooks. How did these allusions enrich your understanding of The Magician?

5. While Thomas is the novel’s protagonist, Tóibín takes great care to sketch out Katia’s character. In this light, how does the novel portray Katia? What themes and motifs does she help develop?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you could adapt The Magician into a biopic, who would you cast as Thomas, Katia, Heinrich, Erika, and Klaus? Why?

2. Imagine The Magician as told from the viewpoint of Thomas’s youngest son, Michael. How would Thomas emerge in the telling?

3. The Magician contains many references to classical music. Find a recording of a piece mentioned in the novel and play it while reading a chapter from the book. How does this affect your reading experience?