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H.P. Lovecraft: The Mysterious Man Behind the Darkness
More than eighty years after his death, Charlotte Montague has written an intriguing biography of the enigmatic author and, in the process, uncovered the mystery of the strange man behind the darkness—H. P. Lovecraft—the master of modern horror fiction. Part of the Oxford People series, this book dares you to explore the hidden secrets of your own imagination through the life of a man whose writing was inspired by nightmares.
H. P. Lovecraft was virtually unknown during his lifetime and only published his stories in pulp magazines such as Weird Tales and Astounding Stories. He died a recluse in poverty and obscurity, aged just 46. Consumed with self-doubt, despair, and monstrous inner demons, his nightmares inhabit every page of his writing.
H. P. Lovecraft and the universe he created are part of an astonishing cultural phenomenon. Lovecraft's reputation has been revived to the point of reverence, and he now occupies a position of great respect within American literature—as one of the most significant horror fiction writers of the twentieth century. His dark grotesque creations have inspired authors such as Stephen King and Clive Barker, as well as film directors John Carpenter, Sturart Gordon, and Roger Corman. Dark forbidden knowledge is always a central theme in Lovecraft's stories, with protagonists who dare to discover hidden secrets which, in the end, completely destroy them.
Explore the depths of H. P. Lovecraft's own dark secrets, and discover some things about your own.
H. P. Lovecraft was virtually unknown during his lifetime and only published his stories in pulp magazines such as Weird Tales and Astounding Stories. He died a recluse in poverty and obscurity, aged just 46. Consumed with self-doubt, despair, and monstrous inner demons, his nightmares inhabit every page of his writing.
H. P. Lovecraft and the universe he created are part of an astonishing cultural phenomenon. Lovecraft's reputation has been revived to the point of reverence, and he now occupies a position of great respect within American literature—as one of the most significant horror fiction writers of the twentieth century. His dark grotesque creations have inspired authors such as Stephen King and Clive Barker, as well as film directors John Carpenter, Sturart Gordon, and Roger Corman. Dark forbidden knowledge is always a central theme in Lovecraft's stories, with protagonists who dare to discover hidden secrets which, in the end, completely destroy them.
Explore the depths of H. P. Lovecraft's own dark secrets, and discover some things about your own.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published August 19, 2015
10 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Montague
14 books22 followersCharlotte Montague is an author specializing in maritime history. Her father was a naval office, and as a child, she travelled the world with her family. She travels for most of the year, but returns frequently to her home, a remote 18th century cottage close to a famous smuggler's cove on the Cornish coast.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 26, 2019
Very nice Bio of this Pulp ear writer. Great layout of the book and tons of pictures throughout. Recommended
August 17, 2017
I'm beginning to think that horror authors from the the turn of the century into the 1930's must take their inspiration from rough childhoods and nightmares. Lovecraft has said he was influenced by Poe and it seems they were both haunted in many ways. Lovecraft was raised by a single mother who was entirely overprotective and raised him to think he was weak and sickly. He was also raised by 2 aunts and therefore didn't have much in the way of strong male influences. It was thought, based on things Lovecraft wrote to friends and family about his health and symptoms, that he was not necessarily sickly but quite possible suffering from a form of autism, Asperger's Syndrome. From early childhood into adulthood he dealt with and obsessive personality, tics, and fits of fainting and seizures. As he got older he enjoyed great and very close relationships with fellow amateur writers but his one attempt at marriage failed miserably as he was more interested in himself and his friends than any sort of romantic relationship.
This is the second biography I have read written by Charlotte Montague, the first being Edgar Allan Poe. This one was in the same format and just as interesting and entertaining. I really love how the chronology of his works and where he drew inspiration for these stories are woven together with facts from the things going on in his life because you can really tie together how life and various relationships influenced him. Unlike Poe, Lovecraft was able to sell many of his stories for, at the time, hefty sums. But like Poe, he never really gained much popularity in the literary world until decades after his death.
You must be very familiar with HP Lovecraft's work if you're going to read this biography though. There are complete plot summaries for most of his major works. While this is fantastic for someone like me who has already read all of his work in the past, there are a plethora of spoilers for those who are just beginning to visit his library. For me, it was a nice reminder of what I have read by him and a fun revisit.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of HP Lovecraft. This is a very in depth exploration of his life and work and I now feel I know so much more than I did before. Lovecraft wrote so many lengthy letters to friends and family throughout his short life that much of what is found in this book is words and revelations from his own mouth and mind.
This is the second biography I have read written by Charlotte Montague, the first being Edgar Allan Poe. This one was in the same format and just as interesting and entertaining. I really love how the chronology of his works and where he drew inspiration for these stories are woven together with facts from the things going on in his life because you can really tie together how life and various relationships influenced him. Unlike Poe, Lovecraft was able to sell many of his stories for, at the time, hefty sums. But like Poe, he never really gained much popularity in the literary world until decades after his death.
You must be very familiar with HP Lovecraft's work if you're going to read this biography though. There are complete plot summaries for most of his major works. While this is fantastic for someone like me who has already read all of his work in the past, there are a plethora of spoilers for those who are just beginning to visit his library. For me, it was a nice reminder of what I have read by him and a fun revisit.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to fans of HP Lovecraft. This is a very in depth exploration of his life and work and I now feel I know so much more than I did before. Lovecraft wrote so many lengthy letters to friends and family throughout his short life that much of what is found in this book is words and revelations from his own mouth and mind.
June 25, 2017
Moderately interesting, this is written in an informal and, frankly, pedestrian style and presented in a “magazine” type of format – loads of little articles inset in boxes break up the regular text, which itself is broken into tiny “bite-sized” pieces. It is also, happily, lavishly filled with photos and drawings, creating a temptation to merely flip through and admire the photos and read the more interesting stories. I did read it all, though, and, despite the layout and mediocre writing, enjoyed the book quite a bit.
Lovecraft's life and importance in the history of “weird” tales is very nicely presented, exploring both the influences on his work and the ways his writing affected the genre. His admiration for and connections with writers such as Arthur Machen, Lord Dunsany, Clark Ashton Smith, Robert Bloch, etc. are given ample space. Montague shows a fine sense of how much is “enough” in her examination of how various events, travels, and people in his life might have played into Lovecraft's work, as well as in her survey of his influence on later writers, movie producers, etc. Lovecraft himself, not surprisingly, comes across as very odd and, in some ways, deeply repugnant. Even more so than I anticipated, actually, which is saying something! In her favor, Montague is never coy about her subject's virulent racism, nor does she excuse it as a “product of his time.” She does, however, show that Lovecraft also had some finer qualities. He was apparently a good friend, a fond nephew, a faithful correspondent, a devoted mentor and encourager of other writers, and, though he was a failure as a husband, his shortcomings were pathetic rather than vile. I was surprised and interested by the extent of his travels, both in the northern and southern parts of the east coast, as I'd pictured him as more of a hermit. Given his extensive friendships and the dedication his friends showed, it seems he must have been much more pleasant company than his stories led me to imagine. Despite his hideous racism, Montague succeeds in showing him to be, in other ways, somewhat sympathetic.
After finishing this my list of not-to-miss Lovecraft stories is a little longer, and I have a couple other authors to look up – a mixed blessing! Three and a half stars, rounded up in gratitude for the useful descriptions of the various stories and the delightfully abundant (if sometimes monstrous!) illustrations.
Lovecraft's life and importance in the history of “weird” tales is very nicely presented, exploring both the influences on his work and the ways his writing affected the genre. His admiration for and connections with writers such as Arthur Machen, Lord Dunsany, Clark Ashton Smith, Robert Bloch, etc. are given ample space. Montague shows a fine sense of how much is “enough” in her examination of how various events, travels, and people in his life might have played into Lovecraft's work, as well as in her survey of his influence on later writers, movie producers, etc. Lovecraft himself, not surprisingly, comes across as very odd and, in some ways, deeply repugnant. Even more so than I anticipated, actually, which is saying something! In her favor, Montague is never coy about her subject's virulent racism, nor does she excuse it as a “product of his time.” She does, however, show that Lovecraft also had some finer qualities. He was apparently a good friend, a fond nephew, a faithful correspondent, a devoted mentor and encourager of other writers, and, though he was a failure as a husband, his shortcomings were pathetic rather than vile. I was surprised and interested by the extent of his travels, both in the northern and southern parts of the east coast, as I'd pictured him as more of a hermit. Given his extensive friendships and the dedication his friends showed, it seems he must have been much more pleasant company than his stories led me to imagine. Despite his hideous racism, Montague succeeds in showing him to be, in other ways, somewhat sympathetic.
After finishing this my list of not-to-miss Lovecraft stories is a little longer, and I have a couple other authors to look up – a mixed blessing! Three and a half stars, rounded up in gratitude for the useful descriptions of the various stories and the delightfully abundant (if sometimes monstrous!) illustrations.
January 16, 2020
The Shadow Over Innsmouth may be one of my favorite literary works of all time, but goddamn if it isn't also a full-blown fever dream of racism, classism, xenophobia, and a creeping dread of sex and seafood. (Which is actually why I like it - the possibilities for deconstruction and perspective flipping are endless!) Not surprisingly, Montague's graphic novel-style biography of H.P. Lovecraft reveals a neurotic and insufferable yet ultimately tragic individual completely out of touch with the fast-paced industrial culture of twentieth century. Lovecraft fancied himself a straitlaced English aristocrat dedicated to a life of leisurely scholarship and often stated that he felt he really belonged in the eighteenth century. I'm left with the impression that his stories have their foundations in this profound and intractable cognitive dissonance. Any perceived threats to his birthright as the traditionally exalted male WASP could only be processed as disgust and horror. Throw in a dysfunctional childhood marred by madness and financial ruin and voilà, a mythos is born!
The Mysterious Man Behind the Darkness is definitely a must-read for anyone trying to understand Lovecraft as a person. Montague makes great use of art, photos, and primary sources and also includes plenty of information about Lovecraft's peers, protégés, and greatest influences. S.T. Joshi is obviously going to be the more in-depth authority but Montague succeeds in being both fun and informative.
The Mysterious Man Behind the Darkness is definitely a must-read for anyone trying to understand Lovecraft as a person. Montague makes great use of art, photos, and primary sources and also includes plenty of information about Lovecraft's peers, protégés, and greatest influences. S.T. Joshi is obviously going to be the more in-depth authority but Montague succeeds in being both fun and informative.
January 24, 2018
As a biography, this book's format was wonderful and engaging. Unlike L. Sprage DeCamp's 500 page word-fest, this hit the right details and kept me involved. It was great to see the alignment between the event's in HPL's life and the stories he wrote. It sits proudly on my HPL shelf.
There are a few low points:
1) While "Through the Gates of the Silver Key" is mentioned early (as happening in the 1932-1933 time frame), when we GET to 1932-1933, there is no mention if it. That's an editorial fuck-up that any good HPL fanatic wouldn't let happen
2) I was glad to see August Derleth called out for the hack writer he was. He may have saved HPL from obscurity, but he damaged the "pure" writing of HPL in the process
3) Despite how much I *hate* Brian Lumley's writing, it was an oversight to not mention him as one of the most prolific writer's in the "Cthulhu Mythos", despite the absolute AWFULNESS of his writing
4) I didn't much care for the criticism of many of my own favorite's of HPL. But I suppose that's just a surprise, not a criticism. Example: I found "The color out of space" to be dull and boring, yet it gets high praise from so-called HPL experts. Similarly I loved "The Thing on the Doorstep", yet it is universally panned. Weird.
All in all, I was glad for the chance to re-visit and re-learn about the life of my favorite author.
There are a few low points:
1) While "Through the Gates of the Silver Key" is mentioned early (as happening in the 1932-1933 time frame), when we GET to 1932-1933, there is no mention if it. That's an editorial fuck-up that any good HPL fanatic wouldn't let happen
2) I was glad to see August Derleth called out for the hack writer he was. He may have saved HPL from obscurity, but he damaged the "pure" writing of HPL in the process
3) Despite how much I *hate* Brian Lumley's writing, it was an oversight to not mention him as one of the most prolific writer's in the "Cthulhu Mythos", despite the absolute AWFULNESS of his writing
4) I didn't much care for the criticism of many of my own favorite's of HPL. But I suppose that's just a surprise, not a criticism. Example: I found "The color out of space" to be dull and boring, yet it gets high praise from so-called HPL experts. Similarly I loved "The Thing on the Doorstep", yet it is universally panned. Weird.
All in all, I was glad for the chance to re-visit and re-learn about the life of my favorite author.
May 21, 2018
It is a rare occasion that when someone rights a view into the life of a famous writer (or anyone current or historic) that they get all of it right such as the case of Charlotte Montague herein. Lovecraft was a complicated man who hated pretty much everyone who did not fit into the specific mold of who he thought humanity should be. He did not hide this in his real life, nor in his writing, despite being both hypocritical and narrow in his views. He hated the Jew's, yet he married one and more than a few of his best friends and circle writers were as well. He disliked religion but refused to debate them any more than his point of one of apathy and general disregard. As with most people of his time, he also disliked a great many of immigrants and blamed them for many of the woes that the country was in at the time. Why is this all something that makes for a good writer or biography of such? Because it shows that the people we read works from or about are (or were) human beings with fears, faults, and warts. We try to sugar coat it, we try to glaze over it, but until we accept these things as being true history, whether we like or agree with it is moot, it should be the works that we are most involved with that we measure these people against, not who they were at any given moment.
September 12, 2017
Loses a star for what I'll just call less than stellar writing.
Gains it back for a pretty rad design.
Gains it back for a pretty rad design.
August 26, 2024
The historical pictures and direct quotes from his letters and such make the biography of HP Lovecraft come alive. Would recommend to anyone interested in the life of a literary legend who's imagination still influences writing today!
November 26, 2018
After binge-reading a massive collection of HP Lovecraft's work this year, I felt it was only right to cap it off with a reading of his biography. I'm aware that a much more comprehensive biography of this controversial yet influential writer exists ("I Am Providence," a weighty yet well-researched tome), but I happened upon this illustrated biography at a book sale, and figured it would at least be a nice primer. And despite some editing errors, it's actually a very fair and in-depth look at the strange life of one of the most enigmatic and infamous horror/"weird" writers of the twentieth century, as well as a fascinating glimpse of his work and impact on media.
Charlotte Montague doesn't profess to give us a completely comprehensive look at Lovecraft's life, but she does give us a thorough examination of the life, family history, and influences of the writer, showing how his life and colleagues shaped his body of work and where he drew inspiration for some of his most infamous stories. She doesn't shy away from some of his character flaws -- his by-now-infamous racism, his prickly and aloof personality, his disdain for writing commercially viable works -- but neither does she smear his name or condemn him absolutely for his flaws. It's a rather balanced look at his life, made more fascinating by excerpts from his diaries and letters, quotes from family and close friends, and brief synopses of some of his more famous stories and novellas. And the last few chapters of his work show the many writers he has inspired and influenced over the years, from Stephen King to Neil Gaiman, as well as films, novels, and even video games that have been inspired by his body of work.
I did find some rather glaring typos and editing mistakes as I read this book, which should have been caught before it was published. Aside from that, however, this is a very fascinating read, enriched by a plethora of photos, overviews of his more famous stories, brief bios of his colleagues and influences, and other material. And while not as massive or in-depth as "I Am Providence," it's still a must-read for any Lovecraft fan.
Charlotte Montague doesn't profess to give us a completely comprehensive look at Lovecraft's life, but she does give us a thorough examination of the life, family history, and influences of the writer, showing how his life and colleagues shaped his body of work and where he drew inspiration for some of his most infamous stories. She doesn't shy away from some of his character flaws -- his by-now-infamous racism, his prickly and aloof personality, his disdain for writing commercially viable works -- but neither does she smear his name or condemn him absolutely for his flaws. It's a rather balanced look at his life, made more fascinating by excerpts from his diaries and letters, quotes from family and close friends, and brief synopses of some of his more famous stories and novellas. And the last few chapters of his work show the many writers he has inspired and influenced over the years, from Stephen King to Neil Gaiman, as well as films, novels, and even video games that have been inspired by his body of work.
I did find some rather glaring typos and editing mistakes as I read this book, which should have been caught before it was published. Aside from that, however, this is a very fascinating read, enriched by a plethora of photos, overviews of his more famous stories, brief bios of his colleagues and influences, and other material. And while not as massive or in-depth as "I Am Providence," it's still a must-read for any Lovecraft fan.
May 16, 2017
I first got this book on the assumption that it was a coffee table book. And in fact, it is really stuffed with images that have something to do with Lovecraft. Lovecraft enthusiasts will be able to spend long hours looking at it.
But I was very surprised that in spite of the relatively small amount of text, Montague manages to provide a thorough and sensitive biography of Lovecraft. In addition to providing all the major factual information about his life, she manages to create a crystal clear picture of Lovecraft's world view, which is one of fatalism, cynicism, realism and, for the most part, pessimism. She chooses just the right passages from Lovecraft's writings to illustrate the main threads of his outlook on life — an outlook that had never been clear to me before I read this text. Having read it, I'm strongly inclined to think of Lovecraft as a deep thinker.
Two minor concerns: Montague clearly wants to emphasize Lovecraft's racism and anti-semitism. This line of argument would have been more convincing if Montague had provided more Lovecraft quotations that support it. I'm not sure passages from varying scenes in works of fiction are always the best evidence of a writer's personal views. (For what it's worth, Lovecraft's wife was a Jew.) Second, Montague provides a summary of each of Lovecraft's works. After I read a few of these, I skipped the rest. They were well-written, but I didn't see them providing any information one couldn't get from careful reading.
In the piles of books by and about Lovecraft, this is a surprisingly strong find. If you consider yourself a Lovecraft freak, you'll want to get this gem one way or another.
But I was very surprised that in spite of the relatively small amount of text, Montague manages to provide a thorough and sensitive biography of Lovecraft. In addition to providing all the major factual information about his life, she manages to create a crystal clear picture of Lovecraft's world view, which is one of fatalism, cynicism, realism and, for the most part, pessimism. She chooses just the right passages from Lovecraft's writings to illustrate the main threads of his outlook on life — an outlook that had never been clear to me before I read this text. Having read it, I'm strongly inclined to think of Lovecraft as a deep thinker.
Two minor concerns: Montague clearly wants to emphasize Lovecraft's racism and anti-semitism. This line of argument would have been more convincing if Montague had provided more Lovecraft quotations that support it. I'm not sure passages from varying scenes in works of fiction are always the best evidence of a writer's personal views. (For what it's worth, Lovecraft's wife was a Jew.) Second, Montague provides a summary of each of Lovecraft's works. After I read a few of these, I skipped the rest. They were well-written, but I didn't see them providing any information one couldn't get from careful reading.
In the piles of books by and about Lovecraft, this is a surprisingly strong find. If you consider yourself a Lovecraft freak, you'll want to get this gem one way or another.
September 7, 2017
A very broad but good introduction to H.P. Lovecraft- his life and works. Interspersed with the biography portions are summaries of his important works and other information. It ends with Lovecraft's influence on other writers(beware- you will end up ordering more books), movie adaptations, and video games. The book is presented on glossy stock in sepia-toned pages like an old magazone, which adds nicely. Well done.
February 20, 2020
An excellent introduction into H.P Lovecraft life and writing. This book gives you many examples of how Lovecraft has not only endured the last 80 plus years since his death but has grown more pop than ever, one would be pressed to find an area he hasn't influenced. While not for all hardened Lovecraftians this book is a fantastic starting point for anyone getting into Lovecraft
May 16, 2021
Great history and retellings of Howard's upbringing as it related to the stories he wrote in his child years spanning to his adulthood, death, and beyond. He truly inspired the horror and sci-fi short story to full blown series writers of today. Plus there are so many stories that relate to his mythos listed in this book that you can read today.
November 21, 2019
A great over view of the life and times of Lovecraft, his tales, with tons of interesting details. The book itself is laid out beautifully with many photos, magazine and book covers, and original artwork. This is a must have for Lovecraft fans.
June 29, 2017
Read this before my visit to Providence - made the HP Lovecraft sites far more interesting.
September 17, 2017
Very basic overview of Lovecraft's life and works. Fine for those who aren't ready for the minutiae of Joshi's biographies. Purchased for the beautiful images infused throughout the book.
January 25, 2020
Great layout and pictures.
A good intro biography.
A good intro biography.
December 24, 2021
A decent biography of Lovecraft covering his major works and his friendships and influence.
August 18, 2022
A great book with cool illustrations of yester year.
October 6, 2023
The illustrations in this volume are awesome. The text can be a little confusing. I enjoyed it only because I like Lovecraft's work. Would I read it again? No. But worth it one time...
December 12, 2025
A colorful hardcover coffee-table book observing the broad strokes of Lovecraft's life. A poppy introduction to the author for the uninitiated.
February 25, 2017
Una excelente aproximacion a la vida y obra de Lovecraft, de una manera clara y amena. La presentacion del libro es inmejorable, pues esta profusamente acompañada de muchas ilustraciones y fotografias actuales y de la epoca, con un trabajo de edicion muy atractivo que preserva el espiritu lovecraftniano aun para el lector no iniciado. Aunque Lovecraft es presentado en una faceta como un probable Asperger correcto a la vieja usanza, amigo de sus amigos, erudito autodidacta e introspectivo con vena racista, creo que la autora falla al explicar las motivaciones tras la tematica de su escritura oscura, aunque uno podria asumir que lo hizo por simple diversion escapista. Un libro casi perfecto en su simpleza y presentacion.
did-not-finish
December 31, 2021I just gave up on this book. It was way too focused on mundane details rather than how his life and environment influenced his writing. There's no real analysis of the stories themselves, either, although plenty of words are wasted in a summary of each and every tale.
July 24, 2016
Excellent portrait of a very complicated and troubled man who's writing has inspired countless horror movies, mythology and cosmic horror writers. "We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of the black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far."
August 28, 2016
This book is a fairly exhaustive review of Lovecraft's life and works. The style is a bit disjointed though, and when combined with some questionable choices of layout, that makes it difficult to read at times. Worth a read for die hard Lovecraft fans.
July 10, 2016
This was an excellent biography on HPL. If you are remotely interested in his fiction and his life, I recommend taking a read at this. It's easy to see why his headstone reads, "I am Providence".
Read
December 31, 2017Very interesting and light read of the life of HP Lovecraft. This book serves as a nice introduction to the man behind the myth as well as a brief overview of his published works.
It's not an in-depth read by an y stretch of the imagination, but is worth the time for people new to Lovecraft.
It's not an in-depth read by an y stretch of the imagination, but is worth the time for people new to Lovecraft.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews