Under the Volcano

Under the Volcano is a novel by the English writer Malcolm Lowry (1909–1957) published in 1947. It tells the story of Geoffrey Firmin, an alcoholic British consul in the Mexican city of Quauhnahuac on the Day of the Dead in November 1938. It takes its name from the volcanoes Popocatépetl and Iztaccihuatl, which overshadow the city and the characters. It was Lowry's second novel, and the last one he completed. The novel was adapted for radio on Studio One in 1947 but had gone out of print by the time Lowry died in 1957. In 1984 it served as the basis of the film adaption Under the Volcano, which restored its popularity. In 1998 Modern Library ranked Under the Volcano at number 11 on its list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century. It was included also in Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century, Time's All-Time 100 Novels, and Anthony Burgess' Ninety-Nine Novels: The Best in English Since 1939.