Customer Reviews

The Gentleman From Angell Street: Memories of H.P. Lovecraft

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I recently picked this book up from the author's grandson at a Lovecraft convention, and despite some of the flaws of the book, I found it to be an interesting read. Among other things, there are a scattering of explanations about sources of Lovecraft's story ideas, an interesting look at his nocturnal habits and episodes of his wandering soul, which took him and Mr. Eddy on many intriguing strolls late and night and to obscure places of local antiquity. Plus there is are a couple of photos in it that I'd never seen before -- including one of a slightly pudgy Lovecraft! (Well, it's relative, but he is much better filled out than otherwise seen!) All in all it gave me an extra angle of insight into Lovecraft's personality, more personal than that found in, say, L. Sprague de Camp's biography, and a nice supplement to de Camp's account. I definitely feel like I have a bit better idea of what he was like in his personal social circles now. Having said that, there are inherent flaws in the book, the most unfortunate being that it is really quite brief, and sadly a decent percentage of the information given is repeated at least once in the course of the essays from Muriel and C. M. Eddy. There is also a very personal slant to Muriel's essays which can come across as presumptuous sometimes, but that is part of what happens when one writes a "personal" memoir of one's experiences, so I don't think that's necessarily a flaw. However, in summation, I feel that it was well worth the full price I paid for it, and I am not disappointed, in fact I was at times fully delighted by the tales the Eddys told. :)

"The Gentleman From Angel Street" is a lovely book for those interested in H. P. Lovecraft. It contains memoirs from people truely fond of Lovecraft and his gentleness and simple humanity is lovingly displayed in this small volume.

The Saint Highly Recommends this to Lovecraft fans.

This slender volume (65 pages) contains two memoirs of H. P. Lovecraft, "The Gentleman from Angell Street," by M. E. Eddy, and "Walks with Lovecraft," by C. M. Eddy, Jr. Both of these items, along with dozens more reminiscences from Lovecraft's friends, were reprinted in the recent omnibus volume LOVECRAFT REMEMBERED, so what else do you get?

Well, you get a few well-reproduced snapshots. And you get several "poems" by Mrs. Eddy, about which the less said the better. And you get a brief note by Mrs. Eddy's daughter, Ruth.

Unless this description makes you want it, I don't think you need it!

Anyone who is familiar with the name Lovecraft will enjoy this very personal glimpse into the life of this man. It is a collection of delightful and insightful memories from two people who spent time with this haunted writer. I found it especially interesting to learn of the inspirations behind some of Lovecrafts' stories, as written in Mrs. Eddy's "Lovecraft: Among The Demons". All in all, this is a book that all Lovecraft fans should read!

This is such a well written, extremely readable book about H. P. Lovecraft, and his relationship with the Eddy family. It includes two memoirs from the Eddy's, the first one is "The Gentleman From Angell Street," by M. E. Eddy, and the second,"Walks With Lovecraft," by C. M. Eddy, Jr. From these two stories you will read about how the relationship between the Eddy's and Lovecraft grew into a special bond of friendship. You will experience those days so vividly. Also, included in this book are some well selected reproduced photos, courtesy of the Eddy family which I found enjoyable, some well written poetry written by M. E. Eddy, and a great story by the Eddy's daughter Ruth, as she gives her recollections of Lovecraft through her eyes. The selections for this book were tastefully put together, and a must to add to your collection.

While there is some repetition of tales in this slim tome, it is only because they are stories coming from two different people with overlapping experiences as a married couple who cared dearly for H.P. This book is worth the price for the photos alone but the litte biographical snippets make one feel as if they had been a guest at the table along with Lovecraft. I'm glad to add this to my library, and think that most any fan, who is also a writer or aspiring author, would likely agree.

How much you'll get out of this book depends on whether you've read S. T. Joshi's H.P. Lovecraft: A Life. If you have read it, then you will find little new in this book since Joshi mined most of it. The memorial poems are nothing distinguished, and the brief recollections of the Eddys' daughter, Ruth, add little. Like Joshi, I'm suspicious of Muriel's statements about her early acquaintance with the Lovecraft family before actually meeting HPL.

However, the book is a treat if you haven't read Joshi's biography. The Eddys were some of Lovecraft's few friends in Providence, and C.M even collaborated with Lovecraft on the necrophilic tale "The Loved Dead" as well as some other, less notable, tales of Eddy's. The Lovecraft that comes through here is a warm, generous man with a sweet tooth and a love of cats, a gifted reader of his own work, haunter of Providence and its surrounding swamps. Muriel's romantic notions of a match between the divorced Lovecraft and his ghostwriting client Hazel Heald bring a smile.

As thin as the book is, it suffers from repeated anecdotes and facts because it is a collection of reminisces and not a single essay.

It does include photos of its authors, Lovecraft's wife and his parents, and a surprisingly pudgy Lovecraft from his doomed sojourn in New York City.