Eccentric, Impractical Devils: The Letters of August Derleth and Clark Ashton Smith

Clark Ashton Smith came in touch with August Derleth in 1930, when, following H. P. Lovecraft's instruction, Smith forwarded to Derleth the manuscript of Lovecraft's tale, "The Whisperer in Darkness." Derleth replied immediately and included without preliminaries several stories of his own. Thus began a correspondence, a friendship, and ultimately a business relationship that extended more than thirty years.

The letters of Clark Ashton Smith and August Derleth afford an intimate glimpse into...