The Dunwitch Horror

by H.P. Lovecraft

Genres: Horror, Lovecraftian

80 pages, Paperback

Published January 3, 2025

About the author

Howard Phillips Lovecraft, of Providence, Rhode Island, was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction.

Lovecraft's major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror: life is incomprehensible to human minds and the universe is fundamentally alien. Those who genuinely reason, like his protagonists, gamble with sanity. Lovecraft has developed a cult following for his Cthulhu Mythos, a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a pantheon of human-nullifying entities, as well as the Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works were deeply pessimistic and cynical, challenging the values of the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Christianity. Lovecraft's protagonists usually achieve the mirror-opposite of traditional gnosis and mysticism by momentarily glimpsing the horror of ultimate reality.

Although Lovecraft's readership was limited during his life, his reputation has grown over the decades. He is now commonly regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th Century, exerting widespread and indirect influence, and frequently compared to Edgar Allan Poe.
See also Howard Phillips Lovecraft.

— Wikipedia

Reviews

[Balazs Badics · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Dunwich Horror" is set in the rural town of Dunwich, Massachusetts, where strange occurrences and eerie legends abound. The story centres around the Whateley family, particularly the mysterious and grotesque Wilbur Whateley, who grows at an unnatural rate and exhibits bizarre behaviour. Wilbur's grandfather, Old Whateley, teaches him dark rituals and ancient secrets, hinting at a sinister purpose. As Wilbur seeks to unlock forbidden knowledge from the Necronomicon, the townspeople become increasingly alarmed by the unnatural phenomena surrounding the Whateley homestead. After Wilbur's death, the true horror is revealed as an invisible, monstrous entity terrorizes Dunwich. The entity's origins and connection to the Whateley family are uncovered by Dr. Armitage and his colleagues from Miscatonic University. Their investigation leads to a climactic confrontation with the eldritch horror.

H.P. Lovecraft's "The Dunwich Horror" is a masterful blend of atmosphere, eeriness, and horror that captivates from the very beginning. The rural setting of Dunwich is vividly described, creating a sense of isolation and dread that permeates the entire story. Lovecraft's ability to evoke a feeling of ancient, lurking evil is unparalleled, making every detail feel significant and foreboding. The gradual build-up of suspense and the mysterious nature of the Whateley family keep the reader engaged and intrigued. The horror elements are expertly woven into the narrative, culminating in a terrifying and memorable climax. The story's exploration of forbidden knowledge and cosmic entities adds depth and complexity to the horror.

[Michal Polgar · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Dunwich Horror" is a truly great work and stands as one of the most influential stories from my personal perspective. My experience was undoubtedly heightened by reading it in a perfectly suited environment, which allowed me to fully appreciate Lovecraft's masterful and sophisticated depiction of atmosphere. I found myself with goosebumps as the situation, ominous from the very beginning, began to accelerate into something even more secretive and dreadful.
While this is a masterpiece, on a personal level, I have a slight preference for the pervasive dread of "The Colour Out of Space" or the dreamlike melancholy of "Polaris." That said, this story remains an incredible and haunting read.

[Em Odie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is honestly my favorite of Lovecraft's work. I love the framework of the narative as piecing together an incident report- not entirely uncommon with him, but I really like how the dread builds with this one.

[Arya Vesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ma swój unikatowy klimat, trzyma w niepewności i niewiedzy do samego końca - urok Lovecrafta. Zdecydowanie nie dla każdego, ale potrafi zaciekawić sposobem kreowania świata i "grozy"

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

nahg Shaggoth hasakgryn Cthulhu

[Zelo Zalis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una maravilla de relato.