Customer Reviews

H. P. Lovecraft's Book of the Supernatural: 20 Classic Tales of the Macabre, Chosen by the Master of Horror Himself

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I found this book while browsing the horror section in a bookstore. The stories collected are among those that H. P. Lovecraft thought as excellent examples of supernatural and weird tales. What I liked about the book is that it brought together several stories that were unfamiliar and intriguing. One of these was Brahm Stoker's "The Burial of the Rats," which turned out to be an atmospheric story of the criminal element of Paris. Another is a story by Guy de Maupassant- "Who Knows" - where the furniture in the protagonist's house suddenly walks off, piece by piece, and Conan Doyle's "The Captain of the Pole Star" is an atmospheric ghost story set in the arctic; and finally, "The Middle Toe of the Right Foot" by Ambrose Bierce was very atmospheric. The book includes stalwart words like Henry James's "The Turn of the Screw" and Poe's "MS Found in a Bottle."

Overall, this is a good selection of stories made a bit more interesting by the interest Lovecraft had for them. Each story is prefaced by remarks by Lovecraft that give his appraisal of the work. The stories are arranged chronologically and provide an idea how horror literature developed among American and British authors. The earliest story is by Washington Irving - The Tale of a German Student - which is interesting and not a humorous ghost like the Headless Horseman and ends with a peculiar tale of transformation by Arthur Machen. I highly recommend the book to those interested in supernatural stories.

Great collection of the best of the mystery horror writers of all time.Many of the short stories ,you may have read at some point in school.And some great macabre tales,that you may not have read yet.Altogether in this chilling anthology of the most enthralling and captivating literary series around.They're richly crafted,and true ghastly gems of horror. It's even more fun to read them,during an autumn midnight.In the full moonshine,beyond the kailyard gate.-Momento Mori.