Strange Bedfellows: Lovecraft and Chesterton

 

Yesterday (July 5) I got two books that arrived together in the post-holiday mail dump. As I unwrapped “The Annotated Supernatural Horror in Fiction” by H. P. Lovecraft (Annotated by S. T. Joshi, Second Edition 2012) and The Collected Works of G. K. Chesterton Volume IV: Family, Society, Politics (Ignatius Press, 1987), I couldn’t help but ponder the fact that the two men lived much at the same time but held such diametrically opposed views. Lovecraft held that go far enough and not only our local human morality becomes meaningless but even the rules of time and space change. Chesterton believed “reason is always reasonable, even in the last limbo, in the lost borderland of things … people charge the Church with lowering reason, but it is just the other way. Alone on earth, the Church makes reason really supreme. Alone on earth, the Church affirms that God himself is bound by reason. Reason and justice grip the remotest and the loneliest star. … Well, you can imagine any mad botany or geology you please … But don't fancy that all that frantic astronomy would make the smallest difference to the reason and justice of conduct. On plains of opal, under cliffs cut out of pearl, you would still find a notice-board, `Thou shalt not steal.'" I wonder what a debate between them, could they be drawn together, would have been like.

"H. P. Lovecraft's "Supernatural Horror in Literature," first published in 1927, is widely recognized as the finest historical survey of horror literature ever written. The product of both a keen critical analyst and a working practitioner in the field, the essay affords unique insights into the nature, development, and history of the weird tale. Beginning with instances of weirdness in ancient literature, Lovecraft proceeds to discuss horror writing in the Renaissance, the first Gothic novels of the late 18th century, the revolutionary importance of Edgar Allan Poe, the work of such leading figures as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ambrose Bierce, and William Hope Hodgson, and the four "modern masters"-Arthur Machen, Lord Dunsany, Algernon Blackwood and M. R. James. In this annotated edition of Lovecraft's seminal work, acclaimed Lovecraft scholar S. T. Joshi has supplied detailed commentary on many points. In addition, Joshi has supplied a comprehensive bibliography of all the authors and works discussed in the essay, with references to modern editions and critical studies. For this new edition, Joshi has exhaustively revised and updated the bibliography and also revamped the notes to bring the book in line with the most up-to-date scholarship on Lovecraft and weird fiction. The entire volume has also been redesigned for ease of reading and reference. This latest edition will be invaluable both to devotees of Lovecraft and to enthusiasts of the weird tale." – Amazon.

“The first of two volumes devoted to Chesterton's political, sociological, and economical writings. Gilbert K. Chesterton staunchly opposed any assaults by the trendsetters on the common man.” – Ignatius Press summary. That is a very brief description. It includes five of his works: What’s Wrong with the World, The Superstition of Divorce, Eugenics and Other Evils, Divorce Versus Democracy, and Social Reform Versus Birth Control. One can easily observe that his subjects are all-too relevant at this very time. Whether one can agree with all his opinions – which are religious, but with a firm philosophical basis – is a matter of discussion.

Items from the Wish List: October Airs

 

The Annotated Supernatural Horror in Literature: Revised and Enlarged by H. P. Lovecraft, S. T. Joshi

H. P. Lovecraft's "Supernatural Horror in Literature," first published in 1927, is widely recognized as the finest historical survey of horror literature ever written. The product of both a keen critical analyst and a working practitioner in the field, the essay affords unique insights into the nature, development, and history of the weird tale. Beginning with instances of weirdness in ancient literature, Lovecraft proceeds to discuss horror writing in the Renaissance, the first Gothic novels of the late 18th century, the revolutionary importance of Edgar Allan Poe, the work of such leading figures as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ambrose Bierce, and William Hope Hodgson, and the four "modern masters"-Arthur Machen, Lord Dunsany, Algernon Blackwood and M. R. James. In this annotated edition of Lovecraft's seminal work, acclaimed Lovecraft scholar S. T. Joshi has supplied detailed commentary on many points. In addition, Joshi has supplied a comprehensive bibliography of all the authors and works discussed in the essay, with references to modern editions and critical studies. For this new edition, Joshi has exhaustively revised and updated the bibliography and also revamped the notes to bring the book in line with the most up-to-date scholarship on Lovecraft and weird fiction. The entire volume has also been redesigned for ease of reading and reference. This latest edition will be invaluable both to devotees of Lovecraft and to enthusiasts of the weird tale. – Amazon.

The Xothic Legend Cycle: The Complete Mythos Fiction of Lin Carter

by Lin Carter, R. M. Price

The late Lin Carter was a prolific writer and anthologist of horror and fantasy with over eighty titles to his credit. His tales of Mythos horror are loving tributes to H. P. Lovecraft's 'revision' tales and to August Derleth's stories of Hastur and the R'lyeh Text. This is the first collection of Carter's Mythos tales; it includes his intended novel, The Terror Out of Time. Most of the stories in this collection have been unavailable for some time. Selected and introduced by Robert M. Price. – Amazon.

The Horror on the Links: The Complete Tales of Jules de Grandin, Volume One

by Seabury Quinn

The Devil's Rosary: The Complete Tales of Jules de Grandin, Volume Two

by Seabury Quinn

The Dark Angel: The Complete Tales of Jules de Grandin, Volume Three

by Seabury Quinn

A Rival from the Grave: The Complete Tales of Jules de Grandin, Volume Four

by Seabury Quinn

Black Moon: The Complete Tales of Jules de Grandin, Volume Five 

by Seabury Quinn

From The Dust Returned - A Family Remembrance by Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury, America's most beloved storyteller, has spent a lifetime carrying readers to exhilarating and dangerous places, from dark street comers in unfamiliar cities and towns to the edge of the universe. Now, in an extraordinary flight of the imagination a half-century in the making, he takes us to a most wondrous destination: into the heart of an Eternal Family. - Amazon

The Supernatural Stories of Monsignor Robert H. Benson: The Light Invisible, a Mirror of Shalott

by Robert Hugh Benson

This collections brings together the supernatural stories in Robert H. Benson's The Light Invisible and A Mirror of Shalott. Benson brings light fantasy and supernatural horror together, from the perspective of a Catholic priest. It is a fascinating twist on a popular genre by a very talented author. Fans of the ghost stories by M. R. James and E. G. Swain will find this a welcome addition to their library. – Amazon.

Lord of The World

by Robert Hugh Benson

Briefly, he said, there are three forces—Catholicism, Humanitarianism, and the Eastern religions. About the third I cannot prophesy, though I think the Sufis will be victorious. Anything may happen; Esotericism is making enormous strides—and that means Pantheism; and the blending of the Chinese and Japanese dynasties throws out all our calculations. But in Europe and America, there is no doubt that the struggle lies between the other two. We can neglect everything else. And, I think, if you wish me to say what I think, that, humanly speaking, Catholicism will decrease rapidly now. It is perfectly true that Protestantism is dead. Men do recognise at last that a supernatural Religion involves an absolute authority, and that Private Judgment in matters of faith is nothing else than the beginning of disintegration. And it is also true that since the Catholic Church is the only institution that even claims supernatural authority, with all its merciless logic, she has again the allegiance of practically all Christians who have any supernatural belief left. There are a few faddists left, especially in America and here; but they are negligible. That is all very well; but, on the other hand, you must remember that Humanitarianism, contrary to all persons' expectations, is becoming an actual religion itself, though anti-supernatural. It is Pantheism; it is developing a ritual under Freemasonry; it has a creed, 'God is Man,' and the rest. It has therefore a real food of a sort to offer to religious cravings; it idealises, and yet it makes no demand upon the spiritual faculties. Then, they have the use of all the churches except ours, and all the Cathedrals; and they are beginning at last to encourage sentiment. Then, they may display their symbols and we may not: I think that they will be established legally in another ten years at the latest.

- Taken from "Lord Of The World" written by Robert Hugh Benson (1907). The most plausible story of an Antichrist arising ever written.

H. P. Lovecraft

H. P. Lovecraft: A Life, by S. T. Joshi.

I used to have a rather condescending biography of Lovecraft by L. Sprague de Camp; after I read this more understanding and complete study of “the gentleman from Providence” I sold de Camp’s book. Sunand Tryambak Joshi is a name that will appear several times in this Inventory connected with Lovecraft; his enthusiasm for weird tales and atheism makes him distinctively insightful into Lovecraft and his worldview. While Joshi’s atheism and anti-conservative bias (he wrote a book called “God's Defenders: What They Believe and Why They Are Wrong (2003), an anti-religious polemic against various writers including C. S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, T.S. Eliot, William F. Buckley, Jr., William James,” and others, and The Angry Right: Why Conservatives Keep Getting it Wrong) make him a rather bitter and provocative figure, his enthusiasms for Lovecraft and his work makes his scholarship secure. As a passing note, why, when atheists denounce religion, are they so drawn to the dark side of belief rather than to a neutral kind of philosophy? I suppose they see it as a metaphor of rebellion against faith, but if they truly thought the universe was not good, they should see that it is not evil either. It just IS. The only dramatic tragedy therein would be not realizing this; instead atheist fiction seems to focus on the injustice and cruelty of the Universe, which, if there really is no higher moral basis against which it can be judged, itself means nothing. And yet humans (even atheists) continue to act as the mythopoetic beings that they are, as if such concepts as kindness, beauty, and sacrifice have meaning! And that’s what I have to say about … er … this book.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Biography. Literary. Soft Cover.

The Annotated H. P. Lovecraft, Edited and with an Introduction by S. T. Joshi.

A clutch of Lovecraft’s classic tales, annotated and illustrated with many photos and reproductions of artwork that inspired Lovecraft and were inspired by him. Most notable is the lengthy “At the Mountains of Madness.”

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Short Stories. Annotated. Horror. Softcover.

More Annotated H. P. Lovecraft, Annotated by S. T. Joshi and Peter Cannon.

Another selection of Lovecraft’s work, annotated and illustrated with maps and artwork, including Lovecraft’s own sketches of Mythos creatures. Outstanding of course is the formative “The Call of Cthulhu”.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Short Stories. Annotated. Horror. Softcover.

The Best of H. P. Lovecraft: Bloodcurdling Tales of Horror and the Macabre, Introduction by Robert Bloch.

This Del Rey book (1982) is an anthology of sixteen of Lovecraft’s most famous tales put into one handy reader. Its cover consists of the ‘tapestry’ by Michael Whelan that was cut up for the covers of the paperback reprints of the time. It used to be Mike’s.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Anthology. Horror. Softcover.

The Transition of H. P. Lovecraft: The Road to Madness. Introduction by Barbara Hambly.

Twenty-nine tales of terror that Lovecraft wrote on his way to becoming the master of the ‘Cthulhu Mythos’, they include a variety of apprentice work, including Dunsany-type fantasy and science fiction. Includes the Gran Guignol of “Herbert West, Reanimator”. If the 1982 anthology from Del Rey was ‘the best’, this Del Rey book must be … ‘the second best’, let’s say. Barbara Hambly was the author of the Lovecraftian fantasy of “The Darwath Trilogy” from the early 80’s, which I used to have – mainly for the cover picture by David Mattingly of a wizard drinking a beer in a modern kitchen. Illustrations by John Jude Palencar.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Anthology. Short Stories. Horror. Softcover.

Supernatural Horror in Literature, by Howard Phillips Lovecraft.

A Dover reprint, with a cover with a picture from the movie “Kwaidan”, of all things. “A 28,000 word essay by American writer H. P. Lovecraft, surveying the development and achievements of horror fiction as the field stood in the 1920s and 30s. The essay was researched and written between November 1925 and May 1927, first published in August 1927, and then revised and expanded during 1933–1934. Lovecraft's essay ranges widely, but he first examines the beginnings of weird fiction in the early gothic novel. As a guide for what to read in the early gothic he relied partly on Edith Birkhead's 1921 historical survey The Tale of Terror, and he was also able to draw on the expertise of the great many experts and collectors in his circle. The bulk of the essay was written in New York City and thus Lovecraft had access to the resources of the city's great public libraries and also to the collections of his friends, and thus he was able to read widely and obtain obscure and rare works. His survey then proceeds to outline the development of the supernatural and the weird in the work of major writers such as Ambrose Bierce, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Edgar Allan Poe. Lovecraft names as the four "modern masters" of horror: Algernon Blackwood, Lord Dunsany, M. R. James, and Arthur Machen. In addition to these masters, Lovecraft attempts to make the essay an encompassing survey, and thus he mentions or notes many others in passing.” – Wikipedia.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Essay. Supernatural Literature. Softcover.

The Necronomicon and The Dunwich Cycle: Where the Old Gods Wait; Series Editor Robert M. Price.

Volumes issued by Chaosium Books, with a smidgen of Lovecraft and a huge body of other writers. They are themed: ‘Necronomicon’ features stories involving that forbidden book and ‘Dunwich’ has stories connected to “The Dunwich Horror”.

Ranking: Keepers.

File Code: Short Story Anthologies. Horror. Softcovers.

Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H. P. Lovecraft, by Andrew Migliore and John Strysik.

How can you put the shadowy and indescribable up on the screen? But people have tried, with rather spotty success. Chockful of artwork, movie stills, and interviews, this is an excellent summation of Lovecraftian cinema up until 2006. Even films with the most tenuous connections with Lovecraft are considered.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Film. Reference. Softcover.

An H. P. Lovecraft Encyclopedia, by S. T. Joshi and David E. Schultz.

A detailed guide to his life, his work, and his associates. “This encyclopedia is an exhaustive guide to many aspects of Lovecraft's life and work, codifying the detailed research on Lovecraft conducted by many scholars over the past three decades. It includes hundreds of alphabetically arranged entries on Lovecraft and presents extensive bibliographical information. The volume draws upon rare documents, including thousands of unpublished letters, in presenting plot synopses of Lovecraft's major works, descriptions of characters in his tales, capsule biographies of his major colleagues and family members, and entries on little known features in his stories, such as his imaginary book of occult lore, the Necronomicon. The volume refers to current scholarship on the issues in question and also supplies the literary, topographical, and biographical sources for key elements in Lovecraft's work. As Lovecraft's renown continues to ascend in the 21st century, this encyclopedia will be essential to an understanding of his life and writings.” – Google Books.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Reference. Literature. Softcover.

Lovecraft and Related Horrors

Hyperborea, by Clark Ashton Smith.

A collection of short stories by Lovecraft’s old pal. “Smith's work was praised by his contemporaries. H. P. Lovecraft stated that "in sheer daemonic strangeness and fertility of conception, Clark Ashton Smith is perhaps unexcelled", and Ray Bradbury said that Smith "filled my mind with incredible worlds, impossibly beautiful cities, and still more fantastic creatures". – Wikipedia. A Ballantine Books ‘Unicorn’ fantasy. He wrote most of these for “Weird Tales”. Can’t say I’ve read them all, but some I’ve enjoyed.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Anthology. Fantasy. Paperback.

The Hounds of Tindalos, by Frank Belknap Long.

Long was basically the youngest member of the Lovecraft circle and wrote for Weird Tales. That is why I have this book. Haven’t read it.

     Ranking: Keeper.

     File Code: Anthology. Fantasy. Paperback.

Cthulhu: The Mythos and Kindred Horrors, by Robert E. Howard. Edited by David Drake.

     All of Howard’s Cthulhu-related and horror stories. He was, of course, the creator of Conan, and in Conan’s world there were plenty of Elder Gods and cultists running around. He and Lovecraft traded letters quite often and used each other’s lore in their stories as sly nods to each other.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Anthology. Fantasy/Horror. Paperback.

The Shadow Over Innsmouth and Other Stories of Horror, by H. P. Lovecraft.

The way I first got into Lovecraft was through running across him in horror anthologies in school libraries and reading about him in editor’s notes. A copy of this Scholastic volume in – Briesemeister? – was the first book of his that I remember seeing, though the Count Orlock inspired cover wasn’t doing it any favors. John bought this copy years later and gave it to me when I begged it for my Lovecraft collection.

Ranking: I’m going to say Essential Nostalgia.

File Code: Horror. Anthology. Paperback.

The Colour Out of Space, by H. P. Lovecraft.

A Harcourt Brace Jovanovich (HBJ) book, with a Preface by Frank Belknap Long and a cover by Rowena, I think this is the first Lovecraft I ever owned. A nice anthology of his stuff, including the seminal “The Call of Cthulhu”.

Ranking: Essential-ish.

File Code: Horror. Anthology. Paperback.

The Dunwich Horror and Others, By H. P. Lovecraft.

An HBJ book, with a preface by August Derleth and a cover by Rowena. It is a companion volume to HBJ’s edition of “The Colour Out of Space”, and I didn’t even know it existed until I picked up this copy at Half-Price. By then I had all the stories inside elsewhere but had to have it to match. The line on the cover - “It’s Evil Beyond Exorcism” – pretty much dates it to the 70’s, even if you couldn’t read the publisher’s date inside.

Ranking: Essential-ish.

File Code: Horror. Anthology. Paperback.

Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos Volume I, Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos Volume II, The Tomb and Other Tales, At the Mountains of Madness and Other Tales of Terror, The Lurking Fear and Other Stories, The Shuttered Room and Other Tales of Horror, by H. P. Lovecraft.

Having started into Lovecraft, we had to get them all, and for a while it was a race between John and me as to who could find the most. These Ballantine Book editions, with their monster-head covers by John Holmes, were advertised in all the Warren magazines we bought and the editions available in used bookstores. The “Mythos” books include stories by others; “Mythos I” is missing its cover and is “Collected” by August Derleth and “Mythos II” is “Edited” by August Derleth. “Room” and “Fear” are older editions in the series that John found and then later gave me (when I begged him).

Ranking: Essential-ish.

File Code: Horror. Anthology. Paperbacks.

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath and Other Stories, by H. P. Lovecraft; and The Horror in the Museum and Other Revisions, by H. P. Lovecraft and Others.

     Before there were the monster-head run, Ballantine put out these horror/science fiction editions, with covers by Murray Tinkelman (same guy as did Del Rey’s E. R. Eddison covers, and a more 60’s-70’s artist there is not). “Dream-Quest” has Lovecraft’s more Dunsany-like work, and “Museum” is ‘collaborations’ that have works he did with others or continuations of his unfinished stories.

Ranking: Keepers.

File Code: Horror. Anthology. Paperbacks.

The Lurker at the Threshold, by H. P. Lovecraft with August Derleth.

A bit of an anomaly here. It is a 1971 Beagle Book, and although Lovecraft gets top billing, it is generally acknowledged to be mostly Derleth’s work. As HPL’s editor and literary executor he had a pretty free hand.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Horror. Novel. Paperback.

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward and The Doom that Came to Sarnath and Other Stories, by H. P. Lovecraft.

These Del Rey Horror editions that came out in the early 80’s, with covers by Michael Whelan, helped plump out the elderly, crumbling tomes of the Lovecraft collection. “Ward” is a novella, perhaps the closest HPL ever got to a masterpiece, and of all his stuff (even over the “Mythos”) is the work I treasure most. Charles Dexter Ward goes in search of his ancestry and awakens an evil from the past. The story of Joseph Curwen and his evil wizardries, the horrors of “Essential Salts”, and the evocation of colonial times, all just hits me in the right spot.

Ranking: Essential Salt.

File Code: Horror. Novella. Paperback.

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, by H. P. Lovecraft.

The Ballantine Books Adult Fantasy edition, with a cover by Gervasio Gallardo. Another copy (see elsewhere for comments on the book itself). It’s in the series, man!

Ranking: Essential/Keeper.

File Code: Fantasy. Anthology. Paperback.

Fungi from Yuggoth and Other Poems, by H. P. Lovecraft, Illustrated by Frank Utpatel.

I thought if I ever found this old Ballantine Book anywhere, it would have to be ordering it through E-bay for tons of cash, and I find it at Half-Price for like $2! I can’t say I’ve read every poem inside, but I’ve read plenty. Most of them are HPL trying to be Poe, but the ones I enjoy most are his satirical efforts, when he’s trying to be Alexander Pope. The pictures are a gas as they try to illustrate his delicate visions with pulp fiction bluntness. Cover by Gervasio Gallardo.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Poetry. Anthology. Paperback.

Lovecraft: A Look Behind the “Cthulhu Mythos”, by Lin Carter.

A 1972 Ballantine Book with a Gervasio Gallardo cover. In 1972 I was in 3^rd grade, and probably wouldn’t have known what to think if I saw this book; probably something like “Gee whiz golly, mister, that looks kind of Satanic to me.” I’d had Carter’s “Tolkien: A Look Behind “The Lord of the Rings” since high school, but only recently (2010) did I acquire this volume through the internet. I fear I got it about 35 years too late, since the cabbage that would have been fresh to me then has now been thoroughly chewed. Still, the portrait of a time in HPL studies.

Ranking: Essential.

File Code: Literary History. Horror. Paperback.

The Watchers Out of Time, by H. P. Lovecraft.

Though Lovecraft’s name is prominent on the cover, this is mostly August Derleth’s work, and his heirs are even listed as holding the copyright, so the old corpse-grinder continues to profit even after death by his association with the master.

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Horror. Anthology. Paperback.

The Loved Dead and Other Revisions, by H. P. Lovecraft.

More collaborations with younger writers in his day, or possibly more accurate to say these are tales where he was a confirmed ‘story doctor’. Haven’t read most of them. Still, completeness for the collection, eh?

Ranking: Keeper.

File Code: Horror. Anthology. Paperback.