NORMAN LEWIS

(1908-2003)

Norman Lewis was born in 1908 into the family of a Welsh farm worker. At the beginning of World War II he joined the British Armed Forces and was sent to Sicily. After the war he worked as a journalist, and being deeply interested in ethnography, he traveled all over the world. Soon he became well-known as an author of travel books and articles. By the end of the forties Lewis, already a professional author, wrote about eight novels, some of which were masterful and emotional.

In his youth Lewis was a great admirer of 19th century Russian classical literature. Of the modern authors, his writings in both manner and presentation bear the influence of Hemingway. Lewis' first novel was published in 1949. It was followed by 'A Single Pilgrim' (1953) and 'The Day of the Fox' (1955). Two years later appeared 'Volcanoes above Us' (1957). In the sixties he wrote:

'Darkness Visible' (1960), 'The Tenth Year of the Ship' (1962), 'The Honoured Society' (1964) and 'A Small War Made to Order' (1966).

Norman Lewis belonged to the so-called 'anti-colonial' trend in English literature. A convinced realist, he always wrote about the countries he knew and had lived in. Another characteristic feature is his journalistic style of narration. He has written much about movements for liberation and independence in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The action of 'A Single Pilgrim' takes place in Laos, while in 'The Day of the Fox' we see Spain under Franco's dictatorship.

'Volcanoes above Us' is a picture of Guatemala after the tragic events of 1954. In this novel the author exposes the American monopolies actively supporting the attempt to overthrow the legal government. The American, Mr. Eliot, one of its characters, is described satirically. 'Volcanoes above Us' narrates the dramatic story of the fate of the native population – Indian tribes – condemned to death in reservations. 'Samara' and 'Darkness Visible' deal with the civil war in Algeria. Lewis' novel 'The Honored Society', which tells of the criminal activity of the Mafia – an illegal reactionary organization in Sicily –, evoked quite a sensation. Built on documentary data, this novel exposes some of the vices of the contemporary society. Among his later publications it's worth mentioning 'Every Man's Brother' (1967), 'Flight from the Dark Equator' (1972), 'The Sicilian Specialist' (1975), 'Naples '44'' (1978), 'The German Company' (1979); 'The Voices of the Old Sea' (1983), 'Jackdaw Cake' (1985) and 'The Missionaries' (1987) compose a trilogy.

Date: 2015-01-02; view: 1324