The air of Eastwick breeds witches - women whose powerful longings can stir up thunderstorms and fracture domestic peace. Jane, Alexandra and Sukie, divorced and dangerous, have formed a coven. Into the void of Eastwick breezes Darryl Van Horne, a charismatic magus of a man who entrances the trio, luring them to his mansions...
The Witches of Eastwick (Penguin Modern Classics)
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'Dazzling' - THE NEW YORK TIMES 'A sharp dissection of social and moral battles in upstate New York' - TIME OUT
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
John Updike was born in 1932 in Shillington, Pennsylvania. John Updike's first novel, The Poorhouse Fair, was published in 1959. It was followed by Rabbit, Run, the first volume of what have become known as the Rabbit books, which John Banville described as 'one of the finest literary achievements to have come out of the US since the war'. Rabbit is Rich (1981) and Rabbit at Rest (1990) were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Other novels by John Updike include Marry Me, The Witches of Eastwick, which was made into a major feature film, Memories of the Ford Administration, Brazil, In the Beauty of the Lilies and Toward the End of Time.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By M. J. Saxton
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Witchcraft is something women go through in their thirties, especially after a divorce, apparently. This is according to John Updike in this dark novel - much darker than you might expect if you've only seen the film and the musical, as I have.
Alex, Jane and Suzie have already come together as a coven when the novel starts; they are three women who use their powers as the whim takes them. They are more closely related to the witches of Salem and "The Crucible" than the quirky trio in the film.
Daryl Van Horne is a strange, scruffy little man who spends money like water, but never seems to pay his bills. His enchantment of the women is as much by his charisma as anything else and when they lose interest in that, after he has married Jenny, what they had previously enjoyed seems tawdry.
Their revenge on Jenny is a spiteful thing and all the more sad that they can't undo it in time to save her. Felicia, Brenda and Franny Lovecraft are equally victims of their spite.
It is an interesting take on witchcraft: the passing of a phase in a woman's life. By the end of the story the first three witches have lost the urge and another three are rising in power. Certainly it presents a rather misogynistic viewpoint.
The prose is often dense and, for me, slows down the pace. I found it hard to keep picking up the narrative. Probably a book best for Updike fans.
Alex, Jane and Suzie have already come together as a coven when the novel starts; they are three women who use their powers as the whim takes them. They are more closely related to the witches of Salem and "The Crucible" than the quirky trio in the film.
Daryl Van Horne is a strange, scruffy little man who spends money like water, but never seems to pay his bills. His enchantment of the women is as much by his charisma as anything else and when they lose interest in that, after he has married Jenny, what they had previously enjoyed seems tawdry.
Their revenge on Jenny is a spiteful thing and all the more sad that they can't undo it in time to save her. Felicia, Brenda and Franny Lovecraft are equally victims of their spite.
It is an interesting take on witchcraft: the passing of a phase in a woman's life. By the end of the story the first three witches have lost the urge and another three are rising in power. Certainly it presents a rather misogynistic viewpoint.
The prose is often dense and, for me, slows down the pace. I found it hard to keep picking up the narrative. Probably a book best for Updike fans.
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful
By Leyla Sanai
Format:Paperback
Reading The Witches of Eastwick was slightly surreal for two reasons. One is that when I saw the film all those eons ago, I had no idea it was based on a book by Updike, and Jack Nicholson was so potent in his portrayal of Darryl Van Horne that his image haunts the book. The second is that Updike is one of my favourite authors, mainly because he can describe the mundanities of normal life with such perspicuity and acute perception that it makes my spine tingle. So I wasn't sure how I felt about him writing about witches - women with supernatural powers. Being on par with Richard Dawkins about this subject enflamed this disbelief.
Yet I greatly enjoyed The Witches of Eastwick. Most people will be familiar with its story through the eponymous film - three divorced women, Alexandra, Sukie and Jane, become swept into the life of Darryl Van Horne, a droll, unconventional and magnetically sexy newcomer to their small town. The divorcees have magic powers which they have used to avenge themselves in past situations - causing a dog to die here, a necklace to snap there. But their growing obsession with this suave man calls on them to increase the magnitude of their spells.
The first thing to say is that Jack Nicholson was Van Horne down to the hair on his back. The drawl, the slightly repugnant air, the staggering confidence, the je ne sais quoi which transformed this hirsute little man into an object of desire.
Updike's prose is as crisp and perceptive as ever. Whether he is describing the physical characteristics of a person or a landscape, he has the ability to make you draw in breath in admiration or suppress a chuckle.... Read more ›
Yet I greatly enjoyed The Witches of Eastwick. Most people will be familiar with its story through the eponymous film - three divorced women, Alexandra, Sukie and Jane, become swept into the life of Darryl Van Horne, a droll, unconventional and magnetically sexy newcomer to their small town. The divorcees have magic powers which they have used to avenge themselves in past situations - causing a dog to die here, a necklace to snap there. But their growing obsession with this suave man calls on them to increase the magnitude of their spells.
The first thing to say is that Jack Nicholson was Van Horne down to the hair on his back. The drawl, the slightly repugnant air, the staggering confidence, the je ne sais quoi which transformed this hirsute little man into an object of desire.
Updike's prose is as crisp and perceptive as ever. Whether he is describing the physical characteristics of a person or a landscape, he has the ability to make you draw in breath in admiration or suppress a chuckle.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fidel had been holding back some marinated capybara balls, which he now served forth!
4 May 2013
By Dr Locrian
Format:Paperback
Realism is often unrealistic as writers, even the female ones, generally write women badly. They write sex even worse for various reasons. Updike was one of the greatest American authors of the 20th. His obvious superiors held American citizenship but were not born there. He was a genius of descriptive prose and went in big for describing sex, perhaps because in many ways it occupies people's minds often and in the name of realism everything is up for grabs. But as attractive as his prose is, I am not too sure that we need half page long descriptions of character's 'demure pubic hair'. Or vulval descriptions like: 'so sweet and puffy like twin pale buns off a pastry tray' Another vulva: the complicated cushion of her lips... Or on male ejactulation: ' These cosmic jets of semen, like the cries of a baby animal in the claws of a hawk.' Basically this is a ludicrous book, with an awful story propelled along by a genius of prose with a penchant for detailing pudendum with the eye of an anatomist.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Hils T
Format:Paperback
Once I'd settled into Updike's style of writing, I really enjoyed the first part of this book but this didn't last. The plot, witty at first with elements of humour, soon darkens perceptibly, as, under the influence of their dark mentor, the witches allow their powers to run amok. Finally, it ends cruelly and unpleasantly, with only one witch apparently feeling any remorse for their actions. I found that difficult to deal with and ended the book feeling rather dispirited.
Certainly Updike's use of language is incredible and poetic at times but he also tends toward some very wordy, convoluted sentences which need close attention. I'm glad I've read "Witches...." but don't feel inspired to tackle any other of the author's works including the book's sequel, "Widows...."
It's a very different plot from the film based on the book which has far more "moral" outcome, yet the book's Darryl Van Horne is unmistakably the film's Jack Nicholson!
Certainly Updike's use of language is incredible and poetic at times but he also tends toward some very wordy, convoluted sentences which need close attention. I'm glad I've read "Witches...." but don't feel inspired to tackle any other of the author's works including the book's sequel, "Widows...."
It's a very different plot from the film based on the book which has far more "moral" outcome, yet the book's Darryl Van Horne is unmistakably the film's Jack Nicholson!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Witches of Eastwick
This is Updike's classic story of three bored and randy women who befriend a newcomer to the village, but have their revenge when he turns out to be not all that they expected.
Published 19 months ago by Mr. P. Heffernan
1.0 out of 5 stars
Awful!
Most awful book I have read in years. Self obsessed, self pitying, selfish characters from start to finish that goes absolutely nowhere. Read more
Published on 28 May 2010 by Jimmy Spangle
1.0 out of 5 stars
I've seen glaciers move faster.
Yawn! I'm sure I have enjoyed a book less than this one, but I'm having a hard time thinking of it. I gave up before reaching the end of the first chapter. Read more
Published on 18 April 2010 by Simon J
4.0 out of 5 stars
Charming tale of the supernatural meeting the everyday.
A wickedly delightful novel by Updike. A story that not only entertains with its lively and humourous narrative, but also an imaginative portrayal of a small town determined to... Read more
Published on 19 Jun 2002
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