Contents
H. P. Lovecraft
Imagining cosmic horror and the Cthulhu mythos.
Weird fiction · At the Mountains of Madness
- Born
- 20 August 1890
- Birthplace
- Providence, Rhode Island, United States
- Died
- 15 March 1937
More people
H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft was an American horror writer whose fiction imagines humanity confronted by an indifferent, incomprehensible universe. His influence grew after his death, alongside sustained criticism of the racism present in his life and work.
Early life
Providence childhood
Raised largely by his mother and maternal relatives after his father’s institutionalisation.
Self-directed interests
Read widely in science, astronomy and older literature despite interrupted schooling.
Career
- 1910s
Amateur journalism
Entered networks of writers and editors that encouraged his literary work.
- 1920s
Magazine fiction
Published stories in pulp magazines while also revising other writers’ work.
- 1926–1937
Providence writing
Returned from New York and produced much of his best-known fiction.
Selected work
The Call of Cthulhu
Scattered documents reveal hints of an ancient, inhuman presence.
At the Mountains of Madness
An Antarctic expedition encounters evidence of a civilisation older than humanity.
The Shadow over Innsmouth
A coastal town conceals a disturbing collective history.
Beyond work
Correspondence
Maintained a large network of fellow writers through extensive letters.
Racism
Expressed racist beliefs in letters and fiction; these are central to critical reassessment of his legacy.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Lucius B. Truesdell. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
