Inside the Volcano: My Life with Malcolm Lowry (Hardcover)

by Jan Gabrial (Author) "As Malcolm mourned his lacked of early love, I mourned my father, dead at fifty, a musical prodigy born in Rotterdam who, at the age..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Mexico City, Don Pablo (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A tough, realistic, and ultimately beautiful memoir of Lowry, by a former soulmate.” —Kirkus Reviews“...an honest authentic record...” —The New York Times Book Review“...a fascinating cautionary tale about the dangers of coming too close to the heat produced when great talent fuels the flames of reckless self-immolation.” —Elle

Product Description
This intimate memoir of the tempestuous marriage between Jan Gabrial, a young, aspiring American writer, and British novelist Malcolm Lowry takes us through the highs and lows of this passionate, troubled relationship. Lowry began writing his best-known work, Under the Volcano, during their marriage, while the two were living in Mexico. He based the character of Yvonne on his wife. Now, for the first time, Jan Gabrial tells the true story of their lives during those heady years, and provides a compelling portrait of a troubled artist, a bright and independent young woman, their deep love and bitter struggles, and her positive role in the creation of his work.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 1st edition (November 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312232772
• ISBN-13: 978-0312232771
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,072,384 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Equally as important as Pursued by Furies, August 20, 2001

By	Mike Erlindson "[e-mail]" (Toronto) - See all my reviews

I heard excerpts of this book at a symposium for Lowry in 1996. The person reading this memoir said it would only be available after Gabriel's death so I'm assuming she has passed on. I was very moved during the reading in 1996 and I was no less moved when I finally was able to read the entire book. Gabriel has a very poetic and flowing style of her own. She is very honest throughout the book as she writes about her tragic relationship with Lowry. This book won't make you happy but it will give you insight into their relationship that you can't find anywhere else. On that level, it is as equally important as Pursued by Furies. In the end, we get to see a sympathetic character in Jan Gabriel that counters Lowry's portrayal of her in Under the Volcano. We also get an insights on Lowry from the most important period of his creative life.