Supernatural Horror in Literature
Encyclopedia
"Supernatural Horror in Literature" is a long essay by the celebrated horror writer H. P. Lovecraft
surveying the field of horror fiction
. It was written between November 1925 and May 1927 and revised in 1933-1934. It was first published in 1927 in the one-shot magazine The Recluse. More recently, it was included in the collection Dagon and Other Macabre Tales
.
Lovecraft examines the roots of weird fiction in the gothic novel (relying heavily on Edith Birkhead
's 1921 survey The Tale of Terror), and traces its development through such writers as Nathaniel Hawthorne
, Edgar Allan Poe
(who merits his own chapter), and Ambrose Bierce
. Lovecraft names as the four "modern masters" of horror Arthur Machen
, Lord Dunsany, Algernon Blackwood
and M. R. James
.
An H. P. Lovecraft Encyclopedia calls the work "HPL's most significant literary essay and one of the finest historical analyses of horror literature." Upon reading the essay, M. R. James proclaimed Lovecraft's style "most offensive." However,
Edmund Wilson
, who was not an admirer of Lovecraft's fiction, praised the essay as a "really able piece of
work...he had read comprehensively in this field — he was strong on the Gothic
novelists — and
writes about it with much intelligence".
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
surveying the field of horror fiction
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
. It was written between November 1925 and May 1927 and revised in 1933-1934. It was first published in 1927 in the one-shot magazine The Recluse. More recently, it was included in the collection Dagon and Other Macabre Tales
Dagon and Other Macabre Tales
Dagon and Other Macabre Tales is a collection of stories by American author H. P. Lovecraft. It was originally published in 1965 by Arkham House in an edition of 3,471 copies....
.
Lovecraft examines the roots of weird fiction in the gothic novel (relying heavily on Edith Birkhead
Edith Birkhead
Edith Birkhead was a lecturer in English Literature at the University of Bristol and a Noble Fellow at the University of Liverpool. She wrote a pioneering work on Gothic literature: The Tale of Terror...
's 1921 survey The Tale of Terror), and traces its development through such writers as Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer.Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in the city of Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, a judge during the Salem Witch Trials...
, Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe was an American author, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American practitioners of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective...
(who merits his own chapter), and Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Bierce
Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American editorialist, journalist, short story writer, fabulist and satirist...
. Lovecraft names as the four "modern masters" of horror Arthur Machen
Arthur Machen
Arthur Machen was a Welsh author and mystic of the 1890s and early 20th century. He is best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. His novella The Great God Pan has garnered a reputation as a classic of horror...
, Lord Dunsany, Algernon Blackwood
Algernon Blackwood
Algernon Henry Blackwood, CBE was an English short story writer and novelist, one of the most prolific writers of ghost stories in the history of the genre. He was also a journalist and a broadcasting narrator. S. T...
and M. R. James
M. R. James
Montague Rhodes James, OM, MA, , who used the publication name M. R. James, was an English mediaeval scholar and provost of King's College, Cambridge and of Eton College . He is best remembered for his ghost stories, which are regarded as among the best in the genre...
.
An H. P. Lovecraft Encyclopedia calls the work "HPL's most significant literary essay and one of the finest historical analyses of horror literature." Upon reading the essay, M. R. James proclaimed Lovecraft's style "most offensive." However,
Edmund Wilson
Edmund Wilson
Edmund Wilson was an American writer and literary and social critic and noted man of letters.-Early life:Wilson was born in Red Bank, New Jersey. His father, Edmund Wilson, Sr., was a lawyer and served as New Jersey Attorney General. Wilson attended The Hill School, a college preparatory...
, who was not an admirer of Lovecraft's fiction, praised the essay as a "really able piece of
work...he had read comprehensively in this field — he was strong on the Gothic
Gothic fiction
Gothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror, is a genre or mode of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Gothicism's origin is attributed to English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, subtitled "A Gothic Story"...
novelists — and
writes about it with much intelligence".
External links
- Supernatural Horror in Literature—eText at the H. P. Lovecraft Archive