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Under the Volcano: A Novel (Perennial Classics)
 

Under the Volcano: A Novel (Perennial Classics)

by Malcolm Lowry

Geoffrey Firmin, a former British consul, has come to Quauhnahuac, Mexico. Here the consul's debilitating malaise is drinking, and activity that has overshadowed his life. Under the Volcano is set during the most fateful day of the consul's life--the Day of the Dead, 1938. His wife, Yvonne, arrives in Quauhnahuac to rescue him and their failing marriage, inspired by a vision of life... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  mexico,  literature,  1001 books you must read before you die,  1960s (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

David Day
  • Rated 5 stars

“Some readers don't seem to get this book. I think you need to have been there (or close to there) to appreciate the devastation of it. And by being there, I don't mean Mexico either....”

David Day’s full review »
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Didn’t Like It

Ria d
  • Rated 1 stars

“Absolutely hated it. Pseudo-James Joyce. Bah!”

Ria d’s full review »
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Community:
  • Rated 4.080645 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.071429 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Gray K

    gray k said:

    “Strangely enough, I don't share kilgatron's experience. But I read the novel for the first time when I was in my teens. I think at that age the vision of the universe as an extension of one's own personal mood is not melodramatic, but rather just the way you perceive the world. It's the same as reading Poe's "Tell Tale Heart" or Ambrose Bierce's "An Occurence at Owl Creek Bridge." Geoffry Firmin definitely interprets the world as a mere extension of his mood. In the adult world, we denounce that as selfish, ego maniacal, and melodramatic. But let's face it: that's probably an accurate depiction of the perceptual world of a man who has to drink himself sober.

    If after finishing the novel you don't immediately want to try a mescal or some other form of hard liquor, the novel didn't work on you. Because you didn't empathize with Geoffry Firmin, which was Lowry's objective.”

    posted Thursday, June 26 2008
  • Ix

    ix said:

    “I guess you've finished the novel by now and hopefully you've grown to like it. In my opinion, the style is everything, but the story isn't bad either - all that symbols, the abandoned garden (which stands for the lost paradise), the bottle of... was it tequila? (the biblical apple), the merry-go-round (life itself) and so on. The plot is a bit intricate and one might get confused at times, while the stream of consciousness doesn't make things any easier. :D”

    posted Monday, April 9 2007
  • mike

    mike said:

    “Cool! As you can tell, not too many people were jumping at the opportunity...! :) Let me know how you like it if/when you find a copy...”

    posted Monday, April 9 2007
  • Clare

    clare said:

    “I'll see if I can't find a copy and give it a whirl... I'll let you know what I think ;)!”

    posted Saturday, April 7 2007
  • mike

    mike said:

    “What is the deal with this book?

    How do folks out there feel about this book? Has anyone on here read it? (OK, I'm guessing the odds are pretty good someone has...)

    I know it's supposed to be a great novel, and a significant work, but I just can't get into it. What am I missing here? I've done a bit of reading of the related criticism, and I suppose the writing style is impressive, but I just can't get into it.

    I'm about 2/3 of the way through this, and I've been really forcing myself to continue reading since about the midway point. Somebody give me a reason to continue - there are too many books I'm halfway through for me to keep another on the shelf!

    Cheers...”

    posted Monday, March 5 2007
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