The Dunwich Horror is one of H.P. Lovecraft’s more famous stories and a key piece of the Cthulhu Mythos. A very weird little boy, one Wilbur Whateley,The Dunwich Horror is one of H.P. Lovecraft’s more famous stories and a key piece of the Cthulhu Mythos. A very weird little boy, one Wilbur Whateley, is born in an isolated, creepy little town in New England. Ol’ Wilbur’s parentage is something of a mystery, and even in a strange town like Dunwich he stands out from the crowd. I won’t attempt to summarize the plot any further, as this is a short story that moves pretty fast. Suffice to say the usual litany of “unspeakable horrors” are involved, including the Necronomicon and terrifying cosmic entities.
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This story (along with The Call of Cthulhu and At the Mountains of Madness) is considered to be one of Lovecraft’s strongest works. I didn’t think it was as gripping as Call of Cthulhu, but it was still an entertaining read. The standard caveat applies with a Lovecraft story – his idiosyncratic style is part of his charm for some readers, while others will find it off-putting. Lovecraft really struggled with writing dialogue, and some of the exchanges in this book are nearly as scary as the actual Dunwich Horror:
”Then fur ahead where Bishop’s Brook goes under the rud he heerd a awful creakin’ an’ strainin’ on the bridge, an’ says he could tell the saound o’ wood a-startin’ to crack an’ split. An’ all the whiles he never see a thing, only them trees an’ bushes a bendin’. An’ when the swishin’ saound got very fur off…”
You get the idea.
But the dialogue aside, I like the Lovecraft style, and if you do too I would recommend this story. This is definitely one of H.P.’s stronger efforts, if not among the very best he has to offer. 4 stars. ...more
”From a private hospital for the insane near Providence, Rhode Island, there recently disappeared an exceedingly singular person. He bore the name of ”From a private hospital for the insane near Providence, Rhode Island, there recently disappeared an exceedingly singular person. He bore the name of Charles Dexter Ward, and was placed under restraint most reluctantly by the grieving father who had watched his aberration grow from a mere eccentricity to a dark mania involving both a possibility of murderous tendencies and a profound and peculiar change in the apparent contents of his mind.”
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, the longest work by H.P. Lovecraft (and his only novel), is a good ol’ fashioned Lovecraftian tale: boy becomes fascinated by creepy and mysterious ancestor, boy dives into dark arcane rituals, and New England is subjected to unspeakable horrors. The story is mostly told through the perspective of Ward’s doctor, as he unravels the mystery of who Ward’s ancestor really was and what really happened with Charles, so I won’t dive deep into the plot and spoil any of the surprises. Suffice to say that the story is vintage Lovecraft, and if you’ve enjoyed his more famous works chances are you’ll like this one. The novel is chock full of Lovecraft’s signature prose, which has been known to turn some readers off but is manna from heaven (or hell, as the case may be) for HPL fans:
”It is hard to explain just how a single sight of a tangible object with measurable dimensions could so shake and change a man; and we may only say that there is about certain outlines and entities a power of symbolism and suggestion which acts frightfully on a sensitive thinker’s perspective and whispers terrible hints of obscure cosmic relationships and unnameable realities behind the protective illusions of common vision…he crawled and rolled desperately away over the damp pavement where dozens of Tartarean wells poured forth their exhausted whining and yelping to answer his own insane cries.”
Good stuff.
Now, I didn’t think this was H.P.’s strongest work. Lovecraft himself was a bit disappointed with this book, calling it a “cumbrous, creaking bit of self-conscious antiquarianism” and neglecting to publish it during his lifetime. The (relatively) long length of this story does give Lovecraft a little too much time to dwell on antiquarian matters, like colonial architecture, and there’s the occasional racist moment (a black cat named Nig, for example) that may make the book feel uncomfortably dated to modern readers. But the story picks up in the second half, and I did end up enjoying it. As I mentioned, if you like H.P.’s other work, chances are you will too. 3 stars, recommended....more
This superb short story is justly famous. The Call of Cthulhu is presented as a series of journal entries from the late Francis Thurston. Poor Franny,This superb short story is justly famous. The Call of Cthulhu is presented as a series of journal entries from the late Francis Thurston. Poor Franny, as the executor of his uncle’s estate, stumbles across some disturbing papers that lead him on a worldwide hunt for answers as to just what the hell this is:
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Hmmm perhaps this isn’t properly conveying the terror this story instills…let me try again:
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That’s better! This story is pretty short so I don’t want to go much further into the plot. But it is well structured, letting the terror slowly build up to a horrifying climax. I have read about 18 of Lovecraft’s short stories by now and Call of Cthulhu is probably the best of them. The only word of warning I will give regards Lovecraft’s language. As noted in other reviews, Lovecraft’s writing is very unique and kind of verbose. I love his style, but I can see how people find it hammy.
But if, like me, you enjoy Lovecraft’s lugubrious language and daemonic descriptions, then you’re going to love this story. I can’t believe I waited this long to read it and urge others not to make the same mistake. If you enjoy horror stories or just weird stories in general this is a must read. 5 stars. ...more
One of the most powerful war novels I've ever read. The author was a German veteran of World War I, and writes this tragic story from experience. To qOne of the most powerful war novels I've ever read. The author was a German veteran of World War I, and writes this tragic story from experience. To quote Remarque, "This book is to be neither an accusation nor a confession, and least of all an adventure, for death is not an adventure to those who stand face to face with it. It will try simply to tell of a generation of men who, even though they may have escaped shells, were destroyed by the war."4.5 stars, highly recommended....more
Like virtually everyone else, I was assigned this book in high school. I really enjoyed this well written (and sneaky tragic) story, and I'm definitelLike virtually everyone else, I was assigned this book in high school. I really enjoyed this well written (and sneaky tragic) story, and I'm definitely due for a reread. 4.5 stars, highly recommended....more
This famous tale of self-discovery didn't sweep me off my feet as it has so many readers, but considering I first encountered it as a teenager I'm defThis famous tale of self-discovery didn't sweep me off my feet as it has so many readers, but considering I first encountered it as a teenager I'm definitely due for a reread. 3 stars....more
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