H.P. Lovecraft

Posted on by

Howard Phillips Lovecraft  – born today, August 20, 1890

He wrote many essays and poems early in his career, lovecraft_0.jpgbut gradually focused on the writing of horror stories. After the advent in 1923 of the pulp magazine Weird Tales, he contributed most of his fiction therein.
His relatively small corpus of fiction; three short novels and about sixty short stories, has nevertheless exercised a wide influence on subsequent work in the field. Though virtually unknown before his death, he is now regarded as one of the most significant 20th-century authors in his genre.

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear. And the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”

Forbidden, dark, esoterically veiled knowledge is a central theme in many of Lovecraft’s works. Many of his characters are driven by curiosity or scientific endeavor, and in many of his stories the knowledge they uncover proves Promethean in nature, either filling the seeker with regret for what they have learned, destroying them psychically, or completely destroying the person who holds the knowledge.

The Complete Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft
collects the author’s novel, four novellas, and fifty-three short stories. Written between the years 1917 and 1935, this collection features Lovecraft’s trademark fantastical creatures and
supernatural thrills, as well as many horrific and cautionary science-fiction themes, 
that have influenced some of today’s writers and filmmakers, including Stephen King, Alan Moore, F. Paul Wilson, Guillermo del Toro, and Neil Gaiman.


“I think it is beyond doubt that H. P. Lovecraft has yet to be surpassed as the twentieth century’s greatest practitioner of the classic horror tale.” -Stephen King  The Call of Ctulhu

“I couldn’t live a week without a private library – indeed, I’d part with
all my furniture and squat and sleep on the floor before I’d let go of the 1500
or so books I possess.” ~H.P. Lovecraft

A man after my own heart!
Who can relate?

16 thoughts on “H.P. Lovecraft”

  2. Pingback: H.P. Lovecraft – worldtraveller70

  4. While I acknowledge his profound influence in literature, I have such a difficult time stomaching his works due to their racism and underlying bigotry that’s exhibited in most of his stuff. I will admit that his creations and ability to pen horror is quite remarkable though. Thanks for the post! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  8. It’s amazing that when racists ruled it was always black and brown who were targeted everywhere, even in their own countries. How far we have come yet still not far enough, Gene Roddenberry saw a world without racism or sexism way back in the 1960’s and it’s a shame we still haven’t arrived there yet. Lovecraft was a man of his time, I have always tried to change attitudes not go with them. My generation saw a bright future when everyone was equal and we were all free.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

Leave a comment