'OFTG' was supposed to be Lowry's literary crowning moment, but it ended up as a symbol of his failings as an author. Unpublished in his lifetime, it was to be the centrepiece of 'The Voyage that Never Ends', a huge semi-autobiographical work encompassing all of his books. In the end, only 'Under the Volcano' was completed. Lowry's publisher rejected 'OFTG', and Lowry spent over a decade trying to finish it before alcoholism and depression finally overtook him. His failure to complete and publish his late work, including 'OFTG', is a literary tragedy.
'OFTG' is really a series of short stories put together as chapters of a novel on the subject of eviction. Ethan Llewllyn and his wife are on their way to Gabriola island, househunting, because they have been threatened with eviction from their current home, a squatter's shack. On the journey to Gabriola, Llewellyn recalls their past homes, including one lost in fire that had a cataclysmic effect on his psyche, and other events, such as helping a friend commit suicide, that have pursued him through all of his homes, dogging his search for happiness and haunting his every step. Ethan is obsessed with the occult coincidences that seem to govern his life, seemingly meaningful juxtapositions of dates and places, and the recurrence of themes such as mysterious fires and homelessness, which give his life a hopelessness that he can never escape the fate that he has created for himself. This was Lowry's 'Voyage that Never Ends', and proved to be prophetic in his own life.
It is difficult for me to be objective about 'OFTG'. I am not sure that any of it would have been particularly meaningful if I hadn't read Gordon Bowker's 'Pursued by Furies', a biography of Lowry that puts 'OFTG' firmly into context. Like all of Lowry's heroes, Llewellyn is an alter ego but, unlike his others, this one is an honest self-image, stripped of the romantic imagery he usually surrounded himself with. The book is much sadder and more poignant because of it. Llewellyn is utterly lost, looking for hope in life that Lowry was unable to find. So, because I like Lowry, I loved 'OFTG'. However, the reasons for its failure in his lifetime are all evident. It is slow moving, lacking in clear narrative and wildly meandering. It is too personal to Lowry to be fully appreciated without some knowledge of his life. The writing is as lyrical as all Lowry's work, but possibly not very accessible. It gets five stars from me, but with the caveat that it may be hard going for those who aren't already familiar with Lowry.
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 September 2005Format: Paperback
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- Amazon CustomerReviewed in the United States on 29 February 2016
October Ferry to Gabriola is a must for fans of ...
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