Malcolm Lowry
@malcolmlowry.bsky.social
Novelist. Short-story writer. Poet. Alcoholic.
Eridanus
Eridanus
Today is a special one for us, the "lunatic admirers" of Lowry (Firminists). I ask that you pause for a moment today, and reflect on that most special book, whose "quality is too rare to be successful".
November 1, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Today is a special one for us, the "lunatic admirers" of Lowry (Firminists). I ask that you pause for a moment today, and reflect on that most special book, whose "quality is too rare to be successful".
"Besides after a while one begins to feel, if the man can hold his liquor as well as that why shouldn't he drink?"
October 27, 2025 at 11:51 AM
"Besides after a while one begins to feel, if the man can hold his liquor as well as that why shouldn't he drink?"
[F]or some reason this simple fact appeared to make these two good people-for nearly all people are good who walk in parks-very happy again.
October 27, 2025 at 11:49 AM
[F]or some reason this simple fact appeared to make these two good people-for nearly all people are good who walk in parks-very happy again.
...but still the old bandstand stands where no band stands.
October 2, 2025 at 2:09 PM
...but still the old bandstand stands where no band stands.
Taken at "Lieben", Bowen Island. Left to right are Reg Watters (Canadian editor and anthologist), Malcolm, Margerie, and Earle Birney. July 1947.
Special Collections Library, UBC - BC 1614/25.
Special Collections Library, UBC - BC 1614/25.
September 19, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Taken at "Lieben", Bowen Island. Left to right are Reg Watters (Canadian editor and anthologist), Malcolm, Margerie, and Earle Birney. July 1947.
Special Collections Library, UBC - BC 1614/25.
Special Collections Library, UBC - BC 1614/25.
"Come amigo, throw away your mind," Dr. Vigil said behind him.
September 9, 2025 at 6:38 PM
"Come amigo, throw away your mind," Dr. Vigil said behind him.
The spectators laughed and cheered, though Hugh, really indistinguishable from a Mexican now, looked serious, even grim. He leaned back, holding on determinedly, with feet splayed, heels knocking the sweaty flanks. The charros galloped across the arena.
September 4, 2025 at 1:29 PM
The spectators laughed and cheered, though Hugh, really indistinguishable from a Mexican now, looked serious, even grim. He leaned back, holding on determinedly, with feet splayed, heels knocking the sweaty flanks. The charros galloped across the arena.
I have lived only nineteen years and all of them more or less badly. --letter to Conrad Aiken, 1929.
September 3, 2025 at 11:41 AM
I have lived only nineteen years and all of them more or less badly. --letter to Conrad Aiken, 1929.
And it seemed to me that until I knew her I had lived my whole life in darkness.
September 2, 2025 at 12:34 PM
And it seemed to me that until I knew her I had lived my whole life in darkness.
Black geometry angled against dark skies.
August 28, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Black geometry angled against dark skies.
Nothing is altered, and in spite of God's mercy I am still alone.
(Watercolor of Lowry by Arturo Espinosa, May 15, 2012)
(Watercolor of Lowry by Arturo Espinosa, May 15, 2012)
August 27, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Nothing is altered, and in spite of God's mercy I am still alone.
(Watercolor of Lowry by Arturo Espinosa, May 15, 2012)
(Watercolor of Lowry by Arturo Espinosa, May 15, 2012)
...the old bastard would merely grin...
1979 letter from Markson discussing Lowry
1979 letter from Markson discussing Lowry
August 26, 2025 at 6:59 PM
...the old bastard would merely grin...
1979 letter from Markson discussing Lowry
1979 letter from Markson discussing Lowry
Editor's note: Checking out the Bluecoat Lowry page, and while I have seen this Lowry picture no less than a 1000 times, it's only the first time that I notice a ship in front of his face! Margerie and Malcolm were always taking trick shots with their camera. So it's not that surprising to see this.
May 9, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Editor's note: Checking out the Bluecoat Lowry page, and while I have seen this Lowry picture no less than a 1000 times, it's only the first time that I notice a ship in front of his face! Margerie and Malcolm were always taking trick shots with their camera. So it's not that surprising to see this.
I began to feel sorry for myself, and rather drunk.
May 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I began to feel sorry for myself, and rather drunk.
[T]he Consul, with scarce a tremor now, found a pair of dark glasses and put them on.
April 11, 2025 at 7:49 PM
[T]he Consul, with scarce a tremor now, found a pair of dark glasses and put them on.
Draft page of In Ballast to the White Sea.
April 10, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Draft page of In Ballast to the White Sea.
Lowry describing to his editor on what his yet to be published novel (Under the Volcano) is truly about.
April 4, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Lowry describing to his editor on what his yet to be published novel (Under the Volcano) is truly about.
And this is how I sometimes think of myself, as a great explorer who has discovered some extraordinary land from which he can never return to give his knowledge to the world: but the name of this land is hell.
April 1, 2025 at 4:56 PM
And this is how I sometimes think of myself, as a great explorer who has discovered some extraordinary land from which he can never return to give his knowledge to the world: but the name of this land is hell.
Margerie "in front of Historic Inn where American Revolution was plotted, Fredricksburg, Virginia." February 1947.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Special Books and Collections.
BC-1614-904
Courtesy of UBC Library, Special Books and Collections.
BC-1614-904
March 28, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Margerie "in front of Historic Inn where American Revolution was plotted, Fredricksburg, Virginia." February 1947.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Special Books and Collections.
BC-1614-904
Courtesy of UBC Library, Special Books and Collections.
BC-1614-904
And when they slowed down, the fallen leaves in the forest seemed to make even the ground glow and burn with light.
Photos courtesy of UBC Library, Special Books and Collections.
Photos courtesy of UBC Library, Special Books and Collections.
March 27, 2025 at 7:49 PM
And when they slowed down, the fallen leaves in the forest seemed to make even the ground glow and burn with light.
Photos courtesy of UBC Library, Special Books and Collections.
Photos courtesy of UBC Library, Special Books and Collections.
Savannah, GA. 1947.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Rare Books and Collections. (BC-1614-023)
Courtesy of UBC Library, Rare Books and Collections. (BC-1614-023)
March 26, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Savannah, GA. 1947.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Rare Books and Collections. (BC-1614-023)
Courtesy of UBC Library, Rare Books and Collections. (BC-1614-023)
Niagara-on-the-Lake, March 1947.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Special Collections and Rare Books.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Special Collections and Rare Books.
March 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Niagara-on-the-Lake, March 1947.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Special Collections and Rare Books.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Special Collections and Rare Books.
"Expelled at gunpoint!" Arriving in LA after being deported from Mexico. May 1946.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Rare Books and Collections.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Rare Books and Collections.
March 25, 2025 at 4:33 PM
"Expelled at gunpoint!" Arriving in LA after being deported from Mexico. May 1946.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Rare Books and Collections.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Rare Books and Collections.
Lowry on the lawn of the Parliament buildings, Victoria, BC. Summer 1946.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Rare Books and Collections. BC-1614-846
Courtesy of UBC Library, Rare Books and Collections. BC-1614-846
March 24, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Lowry on the lawn of the Parliament buildings, Victoria, BC. Summer 1946.
Courtesy of UBC Library, Rare Books and Collections. BC-1614-846
Courtesy of UBC Library, Rare Books and Collections. BC-1614-846