Under the Volcano.

LOWRY, Malcolm.

Item Number: 11143

New York: Reynal & Hitchcock, 1947.

First edition of the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Malcolm Lowry on the half-title page. Near fine in a very good first state dust jacket with “Advance critical acclaim” above four blurbs on rear panel and $3.00 price intact with some chips to the extremities. Exceptionally rare and desirable signed.

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, 2 November 1938. The book takes its name from the two volcanoes that overshadow Quauhnahuac and the characters, Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl. It was named by Modern Library as one of the 100 Greatest Novels of the Twentieth Century. It is the basis for the 1984 film directed by John Huston written by Guy Gallo starring Albert Finney, Jacqueline Bisset, Anthony Andrews and Katy Jurado. It received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Albert Finney) and Best Music, Original Score (Alex North).