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Title: Supernatural Horror in Literature by Howard Phillips Lovecraft, Everett F. Bleiler ISBN: 0-486-20105-8 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 June, 1973 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 (8 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Best short-account of Supernatural Literature ever written
Comment: Yes, do not doubt it. In this thin booklet reprinted by Dover you will find a fine and most pleasant reading on the history of the most reknown and famed names that built up the literature of Horror, by the hand of the celebrated and controversial master of Cosmic or Materialist Terror, Howard Phillips Lovecraft, to whom some regard as the successor of Edgar A. Poe in North American horror-tales tradition. This short essay of his is one of his most commendable titles, even recommended by many of those who consider him a "second-rate" author. This booklet will make you to think otherwise. If you are interested in learning easily and pleasantly about this kind of literature-genre, do not doubt it, buy this one right now.
Rating: 4
Summary: An Excellent Resource, Scholarly and Entertaining
Comment: Sometimes unfairly glossed over and ignored, sometimes unfairly given more credit than he deserves, Howard Phillips (H.P.) Lovecraft's gothic horror novels and stories set a new standard for American horror literature and, most likely, influenced horror writers the world over. That he is the master of setting, scene, and utter creepiness there is no doubt, but many will debate the effectiveness of his "Out of Time" creatures as genuine fright-inducers versus just plain strange and weird... whatevers.
This book, however, is one of Lovecraft's rare pieces of nonfiction - a scholarly survey on the history of supernatural horror throughout literature. Obviously well-researched and excruciatingly well-written, it makes a fine resource for anyone interested in this subject, although its obvious fault is that it covers nothing beyond 1927 - and doesn't touch nearly enough on Lovecraft's own work. For a reference resource on post-1930s horror literature (and television, and film, which became important mediums after this volume was written), check out Stephen King's Danse Macabre.
This book makes a good investment for scholars interested in Lovecraft or horror, and is written in a way that makes it accessible for those who don't need a lot of scholarly language to entertain them. Beware - Lovecraft's well-documented anti-Semitism comes through at several points in this book, but it never presents a problem if you can appreciate his work as an entity separate from his abysmal beliefs about this subject (like you could, say, with T.S. Eliot.)
Bottom line: a worthwhile investment.
Rating: 4
Summary: A must read for horror aficionados
Comment: This essay was written by Lovecraft for a friend's magazine. According to the introduction, Lovecraft took three years to research his project, read numerous works, and write the paper. Also according to the introduction, Lovecraft was a very slow reader. If this is true, he must have devoted quite a bit of time to his research. It leads me to believe that all the books mentioned were all the books he read. What did he miss?
This essay is part explanation of what horror is and a reading list of the discerning horror reader. He gives a good definition and then shows you how other readers fit this definition. He arranges this piece to show you the progression of horror from its beginnings in folklore to modern times (which would have been the 1920s). He mentions quite a few, but not all get the coverage that the great ones get. For instance, Poe gets and whole chapter and Hawthorne and Bierce receive a good bit of coverage.
If you are not a reader of Lovecraft, it may take you a minute to acclimatize yourself with his style of writing. The fan of Cthulu will easily slip into the flow of words.
Lovecraft never really covers anyone he truly doesn't like. He does criticize some writers, but there is no in depth writing against someone. This work is primarily positive. I would recommend getting this for the reading list alone.
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Title: Stephen King's Danse Macabre by Stephen King ISBN: 0425104338 Publisher: Berkley Pub Group Pub. Date: August, 1997 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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