synopsis:

'under the volcano' charts a single day in the life of an alcoholic consul in Quauhnahuac, Mexico who is beyond believing in the redemption of life, love or religion.'Under the Volcano' is set during the most fateful day of the consul's life - the mexican Day of the Dead in 1938 in a town shadowed by two volcanos. His cheating wife, Yvonne, arrives in Quauhnahuac to rescue him and their failing marriage, inspired by a vision of life together away from Mexico and the circumstances that have driven their relationship to the brink of collapse. Yvonne's mission is to save the consul is further complicated by the presence of Hugh, the consul's half-brother, and Jacques, a childhood friend. The events of this one day unfold against a backdrop unforgettable for its evocation of a Mexico at once magical and diabolical.

on this book:

'Under the Volcano' was first published in 1947, but the story of the novel begins eleven years earlier in 1936 when Lowry visited Mexico and was living in Cuernavaca with his first wife, Jan Gabrial. They were touring various towns and villages and on one of their trips their bus stopped beside a man lying, apparently dying, on the side of the road. They were advised to avoid getting involved and apparently observed someone, a "pelado," had stolen the dying man's money.

This incident inspired Lowry to write a short story which he finished within a few weeks. The central characters are an alcoholic British Consul, his daughter, Yvonne, and her boyfriend, Hugh, who have an experience similar to Lowry's. The original story was never published in Lowry's lifetime, but it eventually developed into Chapter VIII of 'Under the Volcano'.

Lowry began expanding the story almost immediately and completed a first draft by the following year. Despite the occasional turmoil in his life, he continued to revise and expand the novel during the next few years. In 1940, Lowry engaged an agent, Harold Matson, to handle 'Under the Volcano' and find a publisher.

The novel was repeatedly rejected, but Lowry overcame his disappointment and began rewriting. With the assistance of his second wife, Margerie Bonner, Lowry continued working on the novel while living in a squatter's shack in Dollarton, British Columbia. The manuscript was nearly lost when, in June 1944, the shack burnt to the ground. Margerie was able to rescue 'Under the Volcano', but all of Lowry's other works in progress were destroyed.

Following a temporary move to Oakville, Ontario, Lowry and Margerie rebuilt the shack and Lowry finally completed the novel in 1945. It began making the rounds of the publishers once again and finally was published.in 1984 a film based on this novel came out.