Customer Reviews

Supernatural Horror in Literature

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Many other Lovecraft aficiandos I'm acquainted with mention this book in sort of embarrassed, humorous tones. It is, they say, H.P. Lovecraft's purely subjective enthusiasms for certain writers and nothing more. But this study is far more than a novelty, or an interesting peek into the mind of an exceedingly strange man. If anyone ever did, H.P. Lovecraft knew horror from the inside out; and the racism notwithstanding (there is a disclaimer on the back of the book, so if it really bothers you that much, DON'T BUY IT) Lovecraft's assessments of Poe, Benson, Bierce and some other greats are so hard hitting and effective BECAUSE they are indeed so subjective. And I don't think it's asking too much to simply ignore when he goes on a rant about how this or that writer had "good blood", or came from this or that race. Lovecraft's prejudice is abundantly clear in the most celebrated of his works, so one must assume the Lovecraftian has already transcended this idiosyncratic nonsense to find the all pervasive feeling of dread at the bottom of his work. If you're going to write horror, forget all the petty qualms people have with this little gem, and read it more than once.

HP Lovecraft was a serious student of the work done within his chosen genre, and this book is evidence. Though written long, long ago, and discussing some works that are long (and undeservedly)-forgotten, the tenets that the Old Gent sets forth in this treatise still hold true to this day. Anyone seeking to work within the horror genre MUST have it. Those who wish to further their understanding of that genre, or of the Cthulhu Mythos specifically, SHOULD have it. The book itself is well-written in HPLs inimitable florid style, slim, and easily digestible, with the chapters clearly marked off so that you can take your time chewing on the concepts discussed therein.

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.

This is a very useful and informative survey of the supernatural element in literature and represents an important contribution to the study of genre writing, particularly fantasy, horror, and science fiction. No, no, no: this isn't just me ascribing to the so-called Lovecraftian "cult of personality." Don't roll your eyes in disdain! This survey is indeed genuine literary scholarship backed up by a lifetime of reading and verifiable expertise (Lovecraft wrote reams of this stuff in correspondences with lots and lots of folks!). But don't take my word for it. Take Edmund Wilson's! Yes, indeed, Edmund Wilson--the famous literary critic and author of the famous _Axel's Castle_--went so far as to say this was Lovecraft's greatest work. This compliment, of course, came at the end of a scathing and immature review of Lovecraft's fiction; nevertheless, I take Edmund Wilson's opinion on "literary scholarship" to be more trustworthy than his opinion on genre literature. What makes this book useful? Put simply: it substantially and succinctly surveys the treatment of the supernatural element in Western literature from Roman times to Lovecraft's contemporary moment. Although Lovecraft has some silly ideas about racial memory--for example, he gives a lot of stock to the ethnicity of writers and equates ethnicity to specific literary styles or psychological temperaments--his knowledge of the canonical literature is astounding. This is not to say he includes everything. He downplays Henry James _The Turn of the Screw_ and Sheridan LaFanu; nevertheless, if you find you have interest in the origins of horror fiction or supernatural fiction in general (read fantasy and science-fiction), this is a classic study that you absolutely need to know.

and his words ring true even today. An excellent guide for anyone who takes horror literature seriously, and a fine introduction to the brilliant mind of the genre's Grand Master.

If there was one thing that H.P. Lovecraft detested, it was the tendency of scholars to focus on just a few leading figures in a subject and ignore the rest. Certainly, if he were still alive, he would be in a state of consternation over the fact that so many academic studies have been written about him while his contemporary Clark Ashton Smith has been ignored.

Lovecraft's own piece of scholarship on the supernatural, Supernatural Horror in Literature, does not commit this cardinal sin despite its short length. This book reveals the wide spectrum of the horror genre. It also set the standard for scholarship in horror literature.

Lovecraft was a pioneer in the field of horror studies. This book set the standard for both thorough research and perceptive analysis. As such it is a masterpiece of critical scholarship that is must reading for all horror fans.

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.

Lovecraft is often remembered for his fiction, but he was also an excellent critic. "Supernatural Horror in Literature" is a concise, clearly written (though at times verbose) critique of the supernatural in literature. Lovecraft reviews many of the major works in the supernatural field beginning with the gothic and finishing with his contemporaries. A must for anyone interested in the subject of supernatural horror or any Lovecraft devotee.

This book is a necessity for anyone interested in the history and criticism of horror fiction. Its chief problem is its age (written c. 1925), but it provides an admirable look at the field up until that time.

All I have to say is, if you want a study about the history of horror from a man who knew what he was taking about at THIS RIDICULOUS LOW PRICE, get it now! No university should be without it.