Two letters from Lovecraft to Smith display HPL's great enthusiasm for Smith's work as both writer and illustrator. He optimistically discusses a new magazine called Weird Tales which might prove to be a good destination for their stories.
In part two of a long letter to Robert E. Howard, HPL discusses the Salem Witch Trials and their connection to witch cults in Western Europe. He also touches on immigration and his own genealogy.
In the first part of a long letter to Robert E. Howard, Lovecraft shares many thoughts including the fascinating and sometimes horrifying history of Rhode Island.
In which HPL writes to one of his revision clients, Adolphe Danziger de Castro. Lovecraft's frayed nerves cause him to decline taking on future revisions for de Castro, but he enthusiastically discusses Jesus as a historical figure among other topics.
In which, following a disastrous experience of living in New York, Lovecraft celebrates his homecoming to his beloved Providence. Hear an emotional HPL sing the praises of a return to the place he loved most.
In which HPL writes to R.H. Barlow, who will go on to be his literary executor. This letter shines a light on why Lovecraft might have selected him for the job, as young Mr. Barlow is already at work protecting HPL's legacy. Here's the strange sigil with which HPL signed this letter:
In which HPL tells his friends Kleiner and Moe of his early encounters with Madame Greene (who will go on to become Mrs. Lovecraft). Is HPL the leading man in a romantic comedy or is he merely a Providence tour guide caught up in forces beyond his control?
In which HPL writes to a young friend of Clark Ashton Smith, telling of his travels in St. Augustine, Florida. The travelogue segues into useful advice about dealing with depression and communists.
In which HPL breaks some big news to his poor Aunt Lillian. HPL's run off and married Sonia Greene in New York! This letter is amazing not just for what HPL reveals, but for how he reveals this shocking news.
In which HPL writes to the young writer Emil Petaja. Learn whether or not Ibsen is a "weird author", how to pronounce Emil's surname, and many other great tidbits of knowledge.
In a letter of August 1923 to original Weird Tales editor Edwin Baird, HPL talks a bit of business before describing his plan to visit a legendary site of dark mystery and monster-inhabited potholes with his friend C.M. Eddy, Jr. Then as a bonus we'll hear him describe how the plan worked out in a letter to Frank Belknap Long from November 8 of the same year.
In this rare letter from March of 1923 to poet Samuel Loveman, HPL speaks with great sensitivity about their mutual friend Alfred Galpin, and somewhat less sensitivity about his own wife, Sonia Greene.
In which HPL writes to Wilfred Talman, abjectly apologizing for miscommunication regarding the idea of HPL writing a novel. This letter from late in Lovecraft's life is revealing about both his work and his concerns for his young friend's reputation.
In which HPL writes to his friend Maurice Moe and questions the truth (or lack thereof) in religion. Lovecraft gives a spirited argument to his friend while leaving plenty of room for them to agree to disagree.
In which HPL writes to C.L. Moore, one of his female correspondents. Howard unleashes a torrent of thoughts on life in the Great Depression and the response of political parties to the challenge of the times. Not for the politically squeamish.
Written during his time in New York, this letter to HPL's Aunt Lillian discusses day to day issues like laundry, and more impactful issues like the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. Please be sure to visit the web page for this episode for lots of images and bonus information!
In this letter from 1933, HPL speaks candidly to his young friend Robert Bloch about the recently-elected Chancellor of Germany: Adolf Hitler. Lovecraft carefully explains his opinions about the ongoing rise of the Nazi party. CONTENT WARNING: This letter covers some intense issues and contains explicitly and intensely racist language.
In part two of his letter to the Gallomo, HPL describes another key figure he's become acquainted with: Frank Belknap Long. This young man from New York goes on to become HPL's colleague, business partner, and one of his closest friends.
In part one of this long letter from the summer of 1921, HPL tells his buddies in the Gallomo of a return to his boyhood clubhouse as a middle aged man. He regales his friends with accounts of his active social life, including a meeting with an intriguing woman: the future Mrs. Lovecraft. Visit the Voluminous web page for this episode for music and other bonus images. Below is a photo of all that remains of the Great Meadow Country Clubhouse: the fireplace built by Civil War veteran James McKay....
In which, during tumultuous times, the HPLHS opts not to read a letter. Don't worry - we'll be back. Here are a couple of other podcasts that are worth your time this week: Fanti The Memory Palace
In this letter of July 2, 1929 to Maurice Moe, HPL discusses his thoughts on marriage and, more importantly, divorce. Written after the collapse of his own marriage, Lovecraft is quite candid about the institution and his personal life. Thanks to our friends at Hippocampus Press . HPL mentions Judge Benjamin Lindsey in this letter, who co-authored The Companionate Marriage with Wainright Evans in 1927....
In the sometimes uncomfortable finale of our three-part letter to J. Vernon Shea, HPL opines on weightier topics, including the looming forces of war and peace, and issues of justice (social and otherwise) surrounding the famed Scottsboro Boys trial. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains numerous bleeps and some awkward conversation. Not recommended for those uncomfortable with discussing racism. HPL mentions Lincoln Steffens in this letter, a famous liberal muckraking journalist who wrote abou...
In part two of our three-part letter to J. Vernon Shea, Lovecraft visits popular culture, discussing music, plays and his favorite motion pictures. Even in 1934 movies about time-travel had plot holes. BLEEP WARNING: The majority of this episode is light and whimsical, but there are a couple of passing mentions of racist language. Sadly, the version of Berkeley Square that was viewable on YouTube has apparently vanished. But there is still a version with no sound at all , and a clip or two with ...
In part one of this lengthy (three episode!) letter, HPL writes to his friend J. Vernon Shea. Among the many topics he delves into are Lovecraft's youthful contemplations of suicide and what kept him from going through with it. Our thanks to our friends at Hippocampus Press for their book Letters to J. Vernon Shea, Carl F. Strauch, and Lee McBride White ....
In a letter to his revision client Zealia Brown Reed Bishop dated August 25, 1929, HPL emphatically defends the editorial work of his young protege, Frank Belknap Long. He gives lots of writing advice before moving on to vivid description of some of his recent local travels. You'll find this letter in The Spirit of Revision published by The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society! Music by Troy Sterling Nies. Our thanks to Christian Matzke, Sean and Jackie McCall, Mary Sullivan, S.T. Joshi, and the Jo...
In which Lovecraft speaks of many things, but most extensively on his fondness for cats. That leads to a discussion of local colloquialisms which then leads to an interesting discourse on local cheese nomenclature and Owyhee Idaho Spuds. It's a fun ride! Thanks to our friends at Hippocampus Press . This is the linoleum cut of Lovecraft by Duane Rimel mentioned in this letter. It was published as an illustration accompanying a bio of HPL by F. Lee Baldwin in Fantasy magazine. CLICK HERE to downlo...
In which HPL writes about space travel, alien life, and the shortcomings of fictional science in a suite of letters to one of the first fans of science fiction: Nils Helmer Frome. These letters were written between December 1936 and February 1937. PLEASE NOTE: During the recording of this episode, Andrew could not recall the name of the man with whom J.B.S. Haldane corresponded, and referred to him repeatedly — and inaccurately — as a "preacher". The man in question was, in fact, Arnold Lunn , w...
February, 1937. In one of the last letters he would ever write, HPL tells Harry Otto Fischer about the things he's afraid of, and explains his etymological interpretation of the title Necronomicon . This episode is full of dodgy Greek, incuding Andrew's old article from Strange Eons . Thanks to our friends at Hippocampus Press ....
In which HPL writes to the Gallomo (Alfred Galpin and Maurice Moe) of his potent dreams, his first encounter with Lord Dunsany, and his idyllic youth at 454 Angel Street in Providence. If you want to see HPL's reference to his Eben Spencer dream, check out page 16 of The Commonplace Book . It's full of fascinating stuff! If you want to read the book that inspired HPL's childhood village of "New Anvik", check out Snow-Shoes and Sledges by Kirk Munroe!...
In which Lovecraft opines to his young friend Frank Belknap Long about the perils of pornography and includes a ribald cautionary poem in an 18th century style to drive the point home. Yes, this episode is safe for work. Thanks to Arkham House for their Selected Letters of H.P. Lovecraft .
