With an introduction by Stephen Spender.

Lowry’s masterpiece catapulted him to international literary fame after years as a struggling novelist. Lowry later claimed that the novel was the first volume of a trilogy based on Dante’s Divine Comedy, Under the Volcano being a vision of hell. The story tells of the last day in the life of Geoffrey Firmin, the alcoholic British Consul in fictional Quauhnahuac (identifiable as Cuernavaca), Mexico; aptly enough, this day happens to fall on the macabre festival of the Day of the Dead. The novel is narrated in flashback by Firmin’s former neighbor, Jacques Laurelle, who has had an affair with Firmin’s wife, Yvonne. She returns to try to renew her troubled relationship with the consul, and together with her brother-in-law, Hugh, she visits the festival, which is haunted by an increasing threat of violence...........

Lowry’s work is more significant for its powerful symbolism and ornate prose style than for its characterization. The setting of the festival of the Day of the Dead under the volcano points to the inevitable death of the self-destructive protagonist, but it also suggests the wider eruptions of a culture in crisis — the novel is set in 1938 and was written during the Second World War. Firmin’s death at the hands of the fascists anticipates a brutal world order that cannot be easily contained. Equally, like all Lowry’s writing, Under the Volcano is autobiographical, and it charts the end of his relationship with his former wife, Jan Gabrial, caused largely by his own excesses and obsessions, principally alcohol, which would ultimately lead to his “death by misadventure.” — Andrew Hadfield in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

Thanks so much for your donation Vasha!

This book is now part of the 1001-library. If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.

Neal Ford's study guide was an inestimable help to me in reading this book. I was initially quite disconcerted by the novel's style. Narration freely mixed with stream-of-consciousness, leaps in time, shifting points of view -- all this I quickly adjusted to, but what took me longer was the highly literary artifice of the language, the erudite vocabulary and diction (see forum post), the omnipresent allusions and symbolism.

This comes to the fore most strongly when Geoffrey Firmin is the center of the narration. Each point-of-view character has a distinct style; it’s no wonder that Geoffrey’s chapters are rather incomprehensible, since they reflect his garbled state of mind. It’s a good thing he doesn’t monopolize the narration or I’d have suspected it was the author who was confused. Hugh (unfortunate Hugh, somehow Geoffrey always got there before and wasted every one of Hugh’s opportunities, not content with marrying his true love, even usurped his glorious death) and Yvonne provide a more approachable entry point to the world of the novel.

One man’s personal catastrophe is interwoven with the Spanish civil war, with the potential rise of fascism in Mexico, with the looming world war. This, along with the violently beautiful descriptions of the location, contribute a lot to the unsettling nature of this novel.

I am adopting this 1001-Library book for storage. It is available for check-out!

This book is now back on the 1001 library bookshelf and can be borrowed by PMing svoight:)

If you want to take this book from the library but don't know how to proceed, please refer to the library bookshelf.

Heading across the pond to a fellow 1001-Library member, enjoy!

Thank you, booksotgive, for sending this book across the ocean to me! It arrived safely today. I'll see if I can find a picture of the cover somewhere and I'll add it to this JE I just made.
Looking forward to read it!

A while ago I spotted this book on marsala's wish list. I tagged her and promised to send the book to her, after reading. But, since there are many ring books that need to be read and sent on again, I do not really have the time to read this book.

I do not want to keep it on my shelves any longer & keep marsala waiting, so I'm sending it on. I'll keep an eye out though, for another copy, because I do want to read it still!

On its way to marsala, like I promised.
I hope it arrives safe and soon!
Happy reading!

Thank you very much for this book Totje2!

Took me a while to get into this book. In the end I thought it was a very good read, the writer really takes you on a mental journey.

Send as a wishlist surprise.

This book arrived as a wishlist book yesterday. Thank you marsala for sending it to me. I hope I will find the time to read it soon and share it with other library members.

I have finally finished the book which took me forever, partly because I had to read ring books in between, partly because it was difficult to get into. The first 50 pages or so I hardly understood a word. That changed when Hugh and Yvonne went for the ride in the countryside. I am glad I read the book and will pass it on today to the next 1,001-library member who is eagerly waiting to receive the book.

The book is finally off to the next reader. Sorry, it has taken me so long.

Thanks LiniP for sending the book along. It sounds a little daunting but I will try to get to it soon.