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Malcolm LowryEnglish writer
Date of Birth: 28.07.1909
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Malcolm Lowry: A Literary Odyssey
- University and First Novel
- Exile and Addiction
- "Under the Volcano"
- Thematic Depth and Symbolism
- Posthumous Legacy
Malcolm Lowry: A Literary Odyssey
Early Life and InfluencesMalcolm Lowry was born on July 28, 1909, in Merseyside, England, to a middle-class family. Before attending Cambridge University, he sailed as a deckhand to China, an experience that deeply shaped his writing.
University and First Novel
At Cambridge (1929-1932), Lowry penned his debut novel, "Ultramarine" (1933), inspired by his seafaring adventures. This work established his distinctive style, characterized by lyrical prose and a restless spirit.
Exile and Addiction
Following graduation, Lowry traveled to Mexico, where his struggles with alcoholism led to multiple arrests. In 1939, he sought refuge in British Columbia, where he began work on his masterpiece, "Under the Volcano."
"Under the Volcano"
Genesis of a Magnum OpusLowry envisioned a grand literary cycle titled "The Voyage That Never Ends," with "Under the Volcano" as its pivotal text. Completed in 1944 but published in 1947 after being rejected by 12 publishers, the novel explores the final day of Geoffrey Firmin, a perpetually inebriated British consul in a Mexican town.
Thematic Depth and Symbolism
Set during the looming shadows of World War II (1939), "Under the Volcano" delves into universal themes of despair and redemption. Firmin's plight mirrors the Fall of Adam and the story of Faust, while the novel's imagery evokes Dante's "Inferno."
Posthumous Legacy
The Genius UncoveredThe brilliance of "Under the Volcano" was only fully recognized after Lowry's death in England on June 26, 1957. His posthumous publications include poems, short stories, and the novel "October Ferry to Gabriola" (1970), which further showcased his extraordinary talent.
