Under the Volcano

Categories: Literature & Fiction

Malcolm Lowry's novel takes place on a single day, the Day of the Dead in 1938, in the Mexican town of Quauhnahuac, beneath two volcanoes. Geoffrey Firmin, a former British consul, is drinking himself to death. His estranged wife Yvonne returns hoping to save their marriage, while his half-brother Hugh also arrives. Over the course of the day, the three wander through the town as the consul's despair deepens. Published in 1947, the novel is regarded as a modernist masterpiece.

Recommended by 1 person

• Anthony Bourdain: “Re-reading the magnificent Under The Volcano before going to Cuernavaca. One of the truly great books.”