Under the Volcano
by Lowry, Malcolm
Malcolm Lowry’s Under the Volcano tells the story of Geoffrey Firmin, an alcoholic British consul in the small Mexican town of Quauhnahuac, on the Day of the Dead in 1938. The novel was precipitated by a short story he wrote after a trip to Mexico with his wife. The story was expanded into a novel completed in 1940, but was rejected and then revised multiple times before finally getting published in 1947.
Under the Volcano thoroughly demonstrates Lowry’s highly stylistic writing choices. Drawing heavily upon autobiographical material (Lowry himself was well-known to be an alcoholic), the author amplifies the complexity of the story with unexpected narrative shifts and allusive layers of symbolism. In fact, the complexity of Under the Volcano has been compared with James Joyce’s stylistic masterpiece, Ulysses.
The novel was out of print by the time Lowry died of alcoholism in 1957, yet is critically acclaimed today. The Modern Library ranked Under the Volcano eleventh on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. TIME included the book in its list of 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present. In 1984, John Huston directed a film adaptation of Under the Volcano. It received Oscar nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Original Score.
First Edition Identification
Reynal and Hitchcock published the first edition of Under the Volcano in New York in 1947. It is bound in grey cloth with red lettering on the spine and front cover. The dust jacket states the original price of $3.00 on the front flap and has four reviews printed on the back.
Other Collectible or Notable Editions
Jonathan Cape published the first UK edition of Under the Volcano in London in 1947 (just a few months after Reynal & Hitchcock).
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Under the Volcano.
by Lowry, Malcolm
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- Used
- Published
- 1947
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Palm Beach, Florida, USA
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€13,802.55
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Under the Volcano
by LOWRY, MALCOLM
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- Used - VG+
- Jacket Condition
- VG+
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1947
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- Hardcover
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Toronto, Ontario, CAN
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€2,617.72
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Under the Volcano.
by LOWRY, Malcolm.
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- 1947
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London, GBR
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€5,336.10
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Under the Volcano
by LOWRY, Malcolm
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- First American Edition
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- 1947
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Winchester, Virginia, USA
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€713.92
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Under the Volcano: A Novel
by Malcolm Lowry
- Condition
- Used - Good Condition
- Jacket Condition
- Fair
- Edition
- Book Club Edition
- Published
- 1984
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN
- 9780060153670
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Lexington, Missouri, USA
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€22.85
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Under the Volcano
by LOWRY, Malcolm
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- First Edition, First Printing
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
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Asheville, North Carolina, USA
- Item Price
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€142.78
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Under the Volcano (First Edition)
by Malcolm Lowry
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- Published
- 1947
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Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Under the Volcano: A Novel
by Lowry, Malcolm
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- New
- ISBN
- 9780061120152
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Bensalem, Pennsylvania, USA
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€19.43
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Under the Volcano
by Lowry, Malcolm
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- Used - Fine
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- Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1947
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Portland, Oregon, USA
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€4,283.55
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Under the Volcano
by Lowry, Malcolm
- Condition
- Used - Very Good in Fair dust jacket
- Edition
- Third Printing
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Hardcover
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Northridge, California, USA
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Under the Volcano
by Lowry, Malcolm
- Condition
- Used - Trade paperback, a fine copy in wraps. Lightly tanning pages. 6th printing of the 1971 Plume edition
- Edition
- Reprint
- Published
- 1971
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780452255951
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Hulls Cove, Maine, USA
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€9.52
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Under the Volcano (Modern Classics)
by Lowry, Malcolm
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- Used - Acceptable
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780140017328
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
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UNDER THE VOLCANO
by Lowry Malcolm
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- Published
- 1947
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Newburyport, Massachusetts, USA
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€471.19
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Under the Volcano
by LOWRY, Malcolm
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
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Gloucester City, New Jersey, USA
- Item Price
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€428.35
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Under the Volcano
by LOWRY, Malcolm
- Condition
- Used - Fine
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Gloucester City, New Jersey, USA
- Item Price
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€475.95
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Under the Volcano
by Malcolm Lowry
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9780061120152
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- 1
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Southport, Merseyside, GBR
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€18.63
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Under the Volcano (Modern Classics)
by Lowry, Malcolm
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780140017328
- Quantity Available
- 1
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GORING BY SEA, West Sussex, GBR
- Item Price
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€2.55
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Under the Volcano
by Malcolm Lowry
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Published
- 2000
- ISBN
- 9780060955229
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Swanton, Vermont, USA
- Item Price
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€7.14
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UNDER THE VOLCANO
by Lowry, Malcolm
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- First American Edition, First Printing
- Published
- 1947
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Rockville, Maryland, USA
- Item Price
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€951.90
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Under The Volcano
by LOWRY, Malcolm
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1965
- Quantity Available
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Winchester, Virginia, USA
- Item Price
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€61.87