The Annotated H.P. Lovecraft - Softcover

Lovecraft, H. P.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0440506603 ISBN 13: 9780440506607

Publisher: Dell, 1997

Synopsis

Explore the marvelous complexity of Lovecraft's writing—including his use of literary allusions, biographical details, and obscure references in this rich, in-depth exploration of great horror fiction from the acknowledged master of the weird, including the stories "Herbert West—Reanimator", "Pickman's Model", "The Call of Cthulhu", "The Thing on the Doorstep", "The Horror at Red Hook" and more.

Did Lovecraft believe in ghosts or paranormal phenomena? In what story does the narrator fear riding the Boston T?

A pathfinder in the literary territory of the macabre, H.P. Lovecraft is one of America's giants of the horror genre. Now, in this second volume of annotated tales, Lovecraft scholars S. T. Joshi and Peter Cannon provide another rare opportunity to look into the mind of a genius. Their extensive notes lift the veil between real events in the writer's life—such as the death of his father—and the words that spill out onto the page in magnificent grotesquerie. Mansions, universities, laboratories, and dank New England boneyards appear also as the haunts where Lovecraft's characters confront the fabulous and fantastic, or—like the narrator in "Herbert West—Reanimator"—dig up fresh corpses.

Richly illustrated and scrupulously researched, this extraordinary work adds exciting levels of meaning to Lovecraft's chilling tales . . . and increases our wonder at the magic that transforms life into a great writer's art.

About this title

Review:

This attractively packaged collection, edited by preeminent H. P. Lovecraft scholar S. T. Joshi, is a treat for long-time enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Joshi provides newly corrected text and footnotes for three superb stories--"The Rats in the Walls," "The Colour out of Space," and "The Dunwich Horror"--as well as the novella "At the Mountains of Madness,"acknowledged as Lovecraft's masterpiece. He explains the origins of place and character names, tracks influences from Lovecraft's reading, defines unusual words such as "nefandous" and "cyclopean," and clarifies which of the cited occult texts are fictional and which are real. The Annotated H. P. Lovecraft also includes a biographical introduction, comments from contemporary horror writers, excerpts from letters presenting Lovecraft's own theories about weird fiction, a critical summary of Lovecraft movies, a select bibliography, and numerous black-and-white photographs. Don't make the mistake of thinking that The Annotated H. P. Lovecraft is just another Lovecraft collection: Joshi has distilled decades of learning into well-chosen observations that are a delight to read.

From the Publisher:

Stephen King wrote that H.P. Lovecraft "has yet to be surpassed as the twentieth century's greatest practitioner of the classic horror tale." Now enthusiasts and newcomers alike have the opportunity to enjoy five of Lovecraft's best tales in a unique package. Included are four short stories of unrivaled terror--"The Rats in the Walls," "Herbert West--Reanimator," "The Colour Out of Space," and "The Dunwich Horror"--as well as the complete text of his eerie novella of ancient alien life in the Arctic, "At the Mountains of Madness."

Augmented by hundreds of fascinating annotations by scholar S.T. Joshi, and illustrated with photographs and artwork depicting Lovecraft's life and work, this rich and varied volume is destined to become, like its author, a classic.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dell
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0440506603
• ISBN 13: 9780440506607
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368