The Last Magic

by N. Richard Nash

Book by Nash, N. Richard

Genres: Fiction

472 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Nathan Richard Nusbaum , known as N. Richard Nash, was an American writer and dramatist best known for writing Broadway shows, including "The Rainmaker".

Through the course of his lifetime, he wrote four plays, twelve screenplays, eight novels, two books on philosophy ("The Athenian Spirit" and "The Wounds of Sparta") and a book of poetry ("Absalom").

"The Rainmaker" was adapted into the 1956 film "The Rainmaker" starring Burt Lancaster and Katherine Hepburn. His 1975 novel "Cry Macho" was adapted to film in 2021 and starred Clint Eastwood and Dwight Yoakam.

He passed away on December 11, 2000 at the age of 87.

Reviews

[Lucy Takeda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I evidently read this in college. I ran across it on the shelf of my husband’s parents’ house, and couldn’t remember it. So, I reread it. Uck. I did finish it, but it was a challenge.
A priest in Rome acts as a negotiator for the Catholic Church. He has risen high because the Pope is fond of him. The Pope is dying. Michael makes a rather desperate attempt to create an alliance within the Church,
Meantime, a group of terrorists are threatening and viciously attacking church personnel. Plus, there’s a brother of a cardinal who meets a woman that decides to work as a prostitute since she’s failed at every other job she’s had.
The church politics are somewhat interesting. The rest is turgid and overdone. I do not recommend it.

[Paul Dinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good romance very much in the fashion of The Thorn Birds. Even a good catholic can read this and not be offended.

[Evelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a cross between a much earlier, less gripping Da Vinci Code, and the earthly temptations of The Thornbirds. I did feel for the characters, but was not very interested in the story.