If you enjoy reading novels by Malcolm Lowry then you might also like the following authors:
Joseph Conrad was an author from the late 19th and early 20th century who wrote novels about adventure and the darker sides of human nature.
His book “Heart of Darkness” follows a sailor named Marlow as he travels up the Congo River, in search of the mysterious ivory trader Kurtz. As Marlow moves deeper into the jungle, he faces brutal realities about colonial power and greed.
Conrad creates a vivid scene of isolation and suspense in this short novel. Readers who enjoy Malcolm Lowry’s narratives set in exotic locations might appreciate Conrad’s intense atmosphere and exploration of human psychology in foreign lands.
Graham Greene is an English author known for stories about people caught in moral dilemmas and emotional struggles. Readers who enjoyed Malcolm Lowry’s “Under the Volcano” might appreciate Greene’s “The Power and the Glory”.
This book follows a priest in 1930s Mexico who tries to escape capture by authorities determined to crush religion. He moves between small villages and remote areas, dealing with his conscience as he faces danger at every turn.
Greene lays bare human frailty and courage in a way readers find honest and moving.
Thomas Wolfe was an American author who wrote detailed and emotional novels filled with personal journeys and reflections.
His book “Look Homeward, Angel” tells the story of Eugene Gant, a young man who grows up in a small town in the American South and dreams of finding meaning beyond the limits of his family and birthplace.
Wolfe shows Eugene’s struggle with family conflicts, difficult relationships and the powerful urge to see and understand the world.
Readers who appreciate Malcolm Lowry’s thoughtful look at characters and life experiences in “Under the Volcano” may find Wolfe’s novel equally rewarding.
If you enjoy Malcolm Lowry’s exploration of identity and inner struggles, you might appreciate Herman Hesse. Hesse is a German-Swiss writer known for books that look deeply into the human mind.
His novel “Steppenwolf” is about a man named Harry Haller, who feels divided by two personalities. One part of him wants comfort, stability and everyday life, while the other side pushes him toward chaos and isolation.
Haller begins going through strange experiences after finding a mysterious booklet that describes his own thoughts and life. This story is famous for its unusual scenes and how it explores the conflict between instinct and society.
James Joyce wrote stories that explored everyday life through deep and thoughtful details. His book “Dubliners” is a great place to begin with Joyce. It contains short stories that show life in Dublin in careful realism and quiet drama.
One story called “Araby” follows a boy who wants to attend a local fair in order to buy a special gift for a girl he admires. Through simple events, Joyce clearly captures feelings and experiences that seem ordinary but become memorable.
Readers who enjoyed Malcolm Lowry’s intense look at human life in “Under the Volcano” may find the emotional depth of Joyce worth discovering.
If you’re interested in Malcolm Lowry’s style, you might also appreciate the novels of D. H. Lawrence. Lawrence writes novels that explore human relationships and emotional struggles in a straightforward and thoughtful way.
For example, his book “Sons and Lovers” tells about Paul Morel, a young man growing up in a working-class mining town. Paul has a close bond with his mother, and this makes it difficult when he starts relationships with other women.
Throughout the story, Paul tries to understand what love means to him while dealing with family pressure and expectation. Lawrence sets believable characters in realistic life situations, which is why many readers connect strongly with his work.
Virginia Woolf wrote novels that often explore the minds of characters through their internal experiences. Readers who enjoy Malcolm Lowry might also connect with Woolf’s book “To the Lighthouse.”
In the story, the Ramsay family plans to visit a lighthouse, but the trip is delayed by family conflicts and shifting emotions. Woolf shows us the way each family member sees their world and each other, with thoughts that shift seamlessly between memories and daily routines.
Readers who liked the thoughtful approach and inward focus of Lowry’s “Under the Volcano” might find a similar appeal in the style of “To the Lighthouse.”
John Steinbeck wrote stories about life and hardships in America. His book “Cannery Row” shows ordinary people who live and work near sardine canneries in Monterey, California.
Doc, the marine biologist, spends his days studying ocean life and quietly helping his neighbors overcome their challenges. Steinbeck portrays friendship and community spirit with compassion and warmth.
The book captures simple moments of human kindness that stay with readers for a long time.
William Faulkner was an American author who grew up in Mississippi. His writing often features the American South and its complicated history. His novel “The Sound and the Fury” tells the story of the Compson family.
The book explores the decline of this Southern family across generations. Each section is narrated by a different family member, and events are often described in unusual ways. For example, we follow the character Benjy, whose perspective is confused yet insightful.
The novel moves back and forth through time without obvious transitions. If you appreciate Malcolm Lowry’s handling of complex characters and settings, Faulkner’s “The Sound and the Fury” might interest you as well.
If you enjoy Malcolm Lowry, you might want to check out F. Scott Fitzgerald. He is best known for his novel “The Great Gatsby.” Set in the roaring twenties, the story follows Jay Gatsby, a wealthy man with a mysterious past.
Gatsby throws huge parties hoping to win back Daisy Buchanan, a woman he once loved. The book shows readers the glamour and emptiness of wealthy American life after World War I. The themes of lost dreams and disappointment appear strongly throughout Gatsby’s tale.
Fitzgerald writes in a clear and elegant style that suits the atmosphere of the period.
Robert Stone was an American author known for novels that explore dark themes and complex characters. Readers who appreciate Malcolm Lowry might enjoy Stone’s book “Dog Soldiers.”
The novel follows a journalist named John Converse who becomes involved in drug trafficking during the Vietnam War era. The story shows how the drug trade affects people’s lives, relationships and trust. The characters face difficult choices in intense situations.
Stone presents human behavior openly and realistically, which may appeal to those who liked Lowry’s direct portrayal of troubled characters.
Patrick White is an Australian author who wrote about characters searching for meaning in life. His work often explores complex inner worlds, isolation, and spiritual emptiness.
One of his best-known books is “Voss,” a story about an ambitious German explorer named Johann Ulrich Voss who heads into the harsh Australian desert in the 1840s. Before leaving, Voss meets Laura, a determined woman with whom he forms a deep connection.
Through letters and memories, readers watch Voss struggle with a brutal wilderness and his own thoughts. White creates intense scenes of solitude and human conflict against vivid descriptions of the desert.
Readers who enjoy Malcolm Lowry’s thoughtful and intense style may find White’s portrayal of Voss’s inner journey rewarding and appealing.
If you enjoy Malcolm Lowry, you might feel a connection with Jack Kerouac. Kerouac belongs to the Beat Generation group of writers from the 1950s. His novel “On the Road” is famous for an intense portrayal of traveling freely across America.
The book follows Sal Paradise and his friend Dean Moriarty as they journey by car from place to place. Along the way they experience jazz clubs, meet unusual characters and search for meaning.
Kerouac writes in a spontaneous and direct way, capturing the energy and restlessness of his generation.
Cormac McCarthy is an American author known for novels that often explore challenging human experiences and intense journeys. If you enjoy Malcolm Lowry, McCarthy’s book “Blood Meridian” might interest you.
“Blood Meridian” follows a young man called “the Kid,” who joins a ruthless group of scalp hunters along the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s. The novel does not hold back on violence or harsh realities, yet offers powerful storytelling with vivid imagery and complex characters.
Through this book, readers see humanity tested, as characters confront moral limits and bleak frontier landscapes.
Yukio Mishima was a Japanese novelist known for intense narratives and sharp emotional insight. One of his best novels is “The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea.” It tells about a young boy named Noboru who admires a sailor his mother meets.
At first, Noboru sees him as a hero. Later, he discovers something disappointing in the sailor. The story explores themes of honor, betrayal and the struggles between individual desires and social values.
Mishima’s clear, careful language and his examination of characters from the inside make this novel memorable. Readers who enjoy Malcolm Lowry’s approach to human flaws and inner conflicts may find Yukio Mishima equally satisfying.