The Curious Case of H. P. Lovecraft

by Paul Roland

Overview

H. P. Lovecraft is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers of modern horror fiction and a pervasive influence on popular culture. His monstrous creations have influenced the look of films such as Alien, Hellboy and even Pirates of the Caribbean, and his most memorable creatures have featured in almost every form of fantasy art. Yet this eccentric and reclusive resident of Providence, Rhode Island, did not have a book published during his lifetime and died at the age of 46 in comparative obscurity, convinced that he had failed to achieve the recognition he deserved.

In this comprehensive new biography, author Paul Roland examines the life and work of the man Stephen King called “the 20th century’s greatest practitioner of the classic horror tale,” and reveals that Lovecraft’s vision was a projection of his inner demons, his recurring nightmares and his inability to live in what he considered a hostile world.

The book is illustrated with rare personal sketches of his creations by Lovecraft himself, images pulp fiction magazines of the period, film stills and posters, comic strip and graphic novel panels, family photographs, as well as facsimiles of private correspondence, original manuscripts and diary extracts in Lovecraft’s own hand.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780859655170
Publisher:	Plexus Publishing, Limited
Publication date:	11/18/2014
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Paul Roland has written extensively on horror films and fiction for many national newspapers, magazines and websites since the early 1980s, including Kerrang!, Total Film, FilmFour, What DVD and The Mail on Sunday. He has also included extensive features on Lovecraft in several of the 30 books that he has had published, including The Complete Guide to Dreams (Hamlyn) and The Dark History of the Occult (Arcturus). Roland's other books include The Crimes of Jack the Ripper, Investigating the Unexplained, The Complete Book of Ghosts and Nazis and the Occult. He lives in London.

Table of Contents

Preface 11

1 A Stranger in this Century 15

2 Demons on Angell Street 28

3 Beyond the Wall of Sleet 45

4 A True Epicure of the Terridle 65

5 Shadows Run Like Ink 79

6 Weird Tales 100

7 The Call of Cthulhu 131

8 At the Mountains of Madness 150

9 The Haunter of the Dark 179

10 Graphic Classics, Reel Horrors and More 197

Afterword 217

Bibliography 224

Appendices 225

Editorial Reviews

You need to read him – he’s where the darkness starts.’—Neil Gaiman

'A wonderful book. The writing is informative and elegant and it's obvious that Paul Roland is a huge fan.' —Eamonn Murphy, SFcrowsnest.com

'The Curious Case of H.P. Lovecraft not only pays homage to previous publications but offers itself as a unique volume that will stand tall on its own…it will be a prized volume on our shelf. The contents are well sourced, has a brilliantly written narrative and extensive material in the Appendices.' —Comfychairzine.com

'A keenly written insight into the life of one of the most recognised names in fiction … intelligent, informative analysis of many of Lovecraft's stories … The Curious Case of H.P. Lovecraft is a must read.' —John Townsend, Starburst Magazine

'Overall, Roland's biography provides a solid introduction for those who want to deepen their appreciation of Lovecraft and his contributions to weird fiction. —Sean Eaton, the R'lyeh Tribune

‘I’d recommend this as a readable primary introduction to the writer.’ —Andy Sawyer, The Future Fire

From the Publisher