The New Annotated H.P. Lovecraft: Beyond Arkham

by H. P. Lovecraft, Leslie S. Klinger (Editor), Victor LaValle (Introduction)

Overview

A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice Selection
"The most exciting and definitive collection of Lovecraft's work out there." –Danielle Trussoni, New York Times Book Review

No lover of gothic literature will want to be without this literary keepsake, the final volume of Leslie Klinger’s tour-de-force chronicle of Lovecraft’s canon.

In 2014, The New Annotated H. P. Lovecraft was published to widespread acclaim— vaunted as a “treasure trove” (Joyce Carol Oates) for Lovecraft aficionados and general readers, alike. Hailed by Harlan Ellison as an “Olympian landmark of modern gothic literature,” the volume included twenty-two of Lovecraft’s original stories. Now, in this final volume, best- selling author Leslie S. Klinger reanimates twenty-five additional stories, the balance of Lovecraft’s significant fiction, including “Rats in the Wall,” a post– World War I story about the terrors of the past, and the newly contextualized “The Horror at Red Hook,” which recently has been adapted by best- selling novelist Victor LaValle. In following Lovecraft’s own literary trajectory, readers can witness his evolution from Rhode Island critic to prescient literary genius whose titanic influence would only be appreciated decades after his death. Including hundreds of eye- opening annotations and dozens of rare images, Beyond Arkham finally provides the complete picture of Lovecraft’s unparalleled achievements in fiction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631492631
Publisher:	Liveright Publishing Corporation
Publication date:	09/24/2019
Pages:	512
Sales rank:	644,853
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

H. P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) is regarded as the most influential twentieth-century American author of weird fiction.

Leslie S. Klinger is the multi-award-winning author of The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, New Annotated Dracula, New Annotated Frankenstein, and The New Annotated H. P. Lovecraft, Volumes I and II. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

Victor LaValle is the author of The Changeling and The Ballad of Black Tom, among many other books. He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a Whiting Writers’ Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Shirley Jackson Award, and an American Book Award.

Editorial Reviews

Klinger's depth of knowledge about the world Lovecraft inhabited, and his ability to tease out shades of Lovecraft's personal experiences in the stories, make this volume the most exciting and definitive collection of Lovecraft's work out there. With hundreds of annotations and photographs, the more obscure elements of Lovecraft's stories are explained, as are the experiences that may have contributed to Lovecraft's racism, misogyny and generally misanthropic worldview. LaValle's introduction, and Klinger's annotations, give such a full picture of Lovecraft that readers can make their own decisions about whether to stick around and read his work, or turn elsewhere. For me, it is worth taking LaValle's approach. Lovecraft is deeply flawed, and his stories cannot be read without coming to terms with that. Yet there is ample reward in doing so.

The New York Times Book Review - Danielle Trussoni

07/01/2019

Klinger complements 2014’s The New Annotated H.P. Lovecraft with another insightful volume focusing on Lovecraft’s most significant non–Cthulhu Mythos stories, such as The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath and The Doom That Came to Sarnath. As always, Klinger’s treatment of the material allows readers to form their own opinions of the works’ deeper meanings, approaching the tales “as thrilling entertainment” rather than applying “psychoanalytic or deconstructive techniques.” Klinger enriches the reader’s appreciation with his explanations. For example, the haunting “The Music of Erich Zann” features a mute viol player who uses his music to try to fend off an ominous threat; Klinger explains what a viol is and explores whether that instrument could produce the sounds attributed to it by the unnamed narrator. The volume is enhanced by a thought-provoking introduction from African-American novelist Victor LaValle (The Changeling), who tackles the dilemma of enjoying Lovecraft’s work and appreciating his place in the canon while acknowledging his racism. Lovecraft scholars and fans will find this work enjoyable and educational. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"If I’d had Leslie S. Klinger as my guide, I would have been better equipped to navigate the peculiarities of the Lovecraftian universe. Klinger’s depth of knowledge about the world Lovecraft inhabited, and his ability to tease out shades of Lovecraft’s personal experiences in the stories, make this volume the most exciting and definitive collection of Lovecraft’s work out there."

Danielle Trussoni