Supernatural Horror in Literature

By: H. P. Lovecraft

Narrated by: Sean Branney, Andrew Leman

Length: 2 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Between 1925-27, H.P. Lovecraft wrote Supernatural Horror in Literature, an extended essay about about the history of the weird tale. In it he describes supernatural horror from its earliest manifestations up to the 1920s. Lovecraft offers his own candid opinions on the merits (and deficiencies) of the world's canon of strange literature. The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society recorded the essay as an audiobook. Read by society founders Sean Branney and Andrew Leman, the recording is approximately three hours long. The text is edited by Lovecraft scholar S.T. Joshi and the recording features original music by Troy Sterling Nies. Don't miss your chance to hear Lovecraft as a literary critic, addressing the genre in which he was to prove himself as a master.

Public Domain (P)2017 HPLHS, Inc.

Superbly Read by the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society

This was an interesting account by author H. P. Lovecraft on the state of supernatural horror in literature. He gives his insights and traces the history and most importantly, gives examples of noted author's and works in different eras and on different continents. If you enjoy gothic horror, your favourites are here and a number of others you may not be acquainted with, along with the titles for you to look up. Summaries of some tales are given as well. Although a bit wordy it was enlightening. I read this book using immersion reading while listening to the audiobook version. The audiobook was narrated by two members of the excellent H. P. Lovecraft Historical Society, Sean Branney and Andrew Leman. Anything produced by the Society is worth your time. Their love for the material and exceptional audio productions will bring hours of audio delight. Be sure to pick up all the episodes of their Dark Adventure Radio Theater. These are radio dramas set in the 30s that portray dramatizations of Lovecraft's stories. They are superb, just like this reading.

Fine stuff

This is a fine essay presented well by the founders of the HPLHS. Highly recommended.

A Fantastic Multi Dimensional Experience!

loved this book and especially its narrators! Now I have a lot of books to read that I didn't know of before! Also the way the narrative was done makes my skin crawl every time I listen! Simply a wonderful job done by the HP Lovecraft Historical Society!

Lovecraft's famous essay

this is the Lovecraft essay in which he wrote to help authors write weird fiction better and more easily. I found it to be very informative on the subject, but it also opened a whole new door to other authors.

great!

beautifully read and enjoyably informed. essential for anyone interested in writing or reading horror fiction.

Beautiful text, wonderful performance

This is a wonderful introduction to the theme and history of modern supernatural fiction as written in the early twentieth century. You will be introduced to new writers who aren't famous now and get an interesting perspective on those who have made it from an author closer in time to the original writing of a Poe or Mencken. The performance is also excellent from two experts of all things Lovecraft.

If you want to understand the history of the weird tale start here

This is an essay written by HP Lovecraft that details a linage of stories that set up the weird tale. He stats with some of the gothic novels and gos on into the literature of the 1920s and 30s. If you wish to know what inspired Lovecraft or want to understand weird literature this may be on of the best starting point you can get. Also a great thanks for HPLHS for making this so accessible.