Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry
Set in Mexico on the Day of the Dead in 1938, the novel follows the last day in the life of Geoffrey Firmin, a British consul with a severe alcohol addiction. Through his interactions with his estranged wife and half-brother, the book explores themes of despair, betrayal, and the destructive power of addiction, against the backdrop of political and social unrest. The impending eruption of the nearby volcano serves as a metaphor for Firmin's deteriorating mental state and the looming world war.
The 109th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1947
- Nationality
- British
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 300-400
- Words
- 144,000
- Original Language
- English
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This book is on the following lists:
- 2nd on Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers (French literary magazine Transfuge)
- 3rd on 50 Books to Read Before You Die (Complex)
- 4th on The 25 Favorite Books of 100 Francophone Writers (Telerama)
- 7th on El Pais Favorite Books of 100 Spanish Authors (El Pais)
- 11th on The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels (Modern Library)
- 14th on 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction (Larry McCaffery)
- 24th on In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels (ThisRecording.com)
- 33rd on D. G. Myers’ 50 Greatest English Language Novels (D. G. Myers)
- 46th on The 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century (Folha de São Paulo)
- 89th on The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time (The Novel 100)
- 98th on The 100 Greatest British Novels (BBC)
- 99th on Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century (Le Monde)
- 141st on The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Culture Café)
- 1097th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 100 Best Novels Written in English (The Guardian)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- Finest Works of Fiction (Martin Seymour-Smith and Editors)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- Zeit Literaturkanon (https://www.librarything.com/award/335/ZEIT-Literaturkanon)
- The 80 Books Every Man Should Read (Esquire)
- Donald Barthelme’s Reading List (Believer Mag)
- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read (The Guardian)
- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels (TIME Magazine)