The Annotated Supernatural Horror in Literature (Paperback)

by H. P. Lovecraft (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"This handsome volume has extras, including extensive footnoting, a bibliography, an index and other peripheral material... An effective research tool." -- Don D’Ammassa, Science Fiction Chronicle

Product Description
H. P. Lovecraft’s "Supernatural Horror in Literature," first published in 1927, is widely recognized as the finest historical survey of horror literature ever written. The product of both a keen critical analyst and a working practitioner in the field, the essay affords unique insights into the nature, development, and history of the weird tale. Beginning with instances of weirdness in ancient literature, Lovecraft proceeds to discuss horror writing in the Renaissance, the first Gothic novels of the late 18th century, the revolutionary importance of Edgar Allan Poe, the work of such leading figures as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ambrose Bierce, and William Hope Hodgson, and the four “modern masters” -- Arthur Machen, Lord Dunsany, Algernon Blackwood and M. R. James.

In this first annotated edition of Lovecraft’s seminal work, acclaimed Lovecraft scholar S. T. Joshi has supplied detailed commentary on many points. In addition, Joshi has supplied a comprehensive bibliography of all the authors and works discussed in the essay, with references to modern editions and critical studies. This edition should be invaluable both to devotees of Lovecraft and to enthusiasts of the weird tale.

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Hippocampus; Annotated edition (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967321506
• ISBN-13: 978-0967321509
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #282,109 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Lovecraft/Joshi must-have!, September 4, 2001

By	Wendy-Marie Chabot "The Bad Gwen" (Central CT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Finally, the long awaited annotated edition of HPL's essential essay of horror/weird fiction is here...

The only flaw/drawback to this edition is the decision to keep all annotation notes in the back of the book unlike previous annotated Lovecraft works. Granted, having the annotations at the bottom of the revelant page did slow down a straight reading of only the text in the annotated story collections. However, an indepth reading was not hampered by having to track down the exact footnote/annotation.

Even with this minor design point, your Lovecraft library deserves this new annotated edition of a Lovecraft classic...Once again, S.T. Joshi proves his status as THE Lovecraft scholar with his in-depth research that sheds new light on this classic work for the modern reader.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Joshi does Lovecraft's Seminal Essay Justice, January 3, 2007

By	Douglas Jones (Virginia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I studied and taught H. P. Lovecraft's work during my years at the University of Chicago, and I read his long essay "Supernatural Horror in Literature" long before most people had heard of it. The new popularity of Lovecraft's fiction--based in large part, for better or worse, on bad films that borrow his titles but have little or anything to do with his work--makes Joshi's annotated version of this essay timely. In 1925 Lovecraft's friend W. Paul Cook asked Lovecraft to write an article about "terror and weirdness in literature." Realizing that he didn't know enough about the genre, Lovecraft systematically read the Gothic literature that preceded him, and the weird fiction that was more or less contemporary with his own work.

His essay remains one of the most thoughtful and insightful discussions of "weird fiction" ever written. Others have used his essay as a springboard for their own work--Joyce Carol Oates' American Gothic Tales and David Punter's The Literature of Terror, for example. But Lovecraft read, understood, and described these stories as only a writer himself and a master of the macabre could. Joshi's notes are excellent (albeit at times opinionated), and the texts Lovecraft cites in his essay deserve new readers. If you're a Lovecraft fan--or if you're a fan of "weird" tales--read this book.

4.0 out of 5 stars Annotated Supernatural Horror in Lit, October 1, 2008

By	ashthegreat182 "ashthegreat182" (Gray, TN) - See all my reviews

Good book. I bought it for a class (Supernatural Literature) but actually enjoyed reading it. If you enjoy supernatural lit., you'll like this book because it explores different aspects and different authors of this genre.