Sherrill Grace shows how Malcolm Lowry's theme of a cyclical pattern of initiation, repeated ordeals with failure and retreat, followed by success and development, which in turn gave way to fresh defeat, influenced the structure, narrative style, and the symbolic pattern in his writing. The author also includes an appendix in which she examines the elements of Conrad Aiken's fiction and prose that had a significant impact on Lowry's work.

Includes index.