A Reminiscence of Dr. Samuel Johnson
Encyclopedia
"A Reminiscence of Dr. Samuel Johnson" is a short story written in 1917
by American
horror fiction
writer H. P. Lovecraft
. It was first published in the September 1917 issue of the United Amateur, under the pseudonym Humphrey Littlewit, Esq.
The story is a spoof of Lovecraft's antiquarian affectations. Littlewit, the narrator, is born August 20, 1690--200 years to the day before Lovecraft's birthdate-- making him nearly 228 years old as he writes a memoir.
Critic Daniel Harms
writes, "While not one of the most inspired of his pieces, it at least
shows that HPL realized his pretensions... of being an older, cultured
gentleman of an earlier era, and could make fun of himself."
1917 in literature
The year 1917 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:* January - Francis Picabia produces the first issue of the Dada periodical 391 in Barcelona....
by American
American literature
American literature is the written or literary work produced in the area of the United States and its preceding colonies. For more specific discussions of poetry and theater, see Poetry of the United States and Theater in the United States. During its early history, America was a series of British...
horror fiction
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
writer H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
. It was first published in the September 1917 issue of the United Amateur, under the pseudonym Humphrey Littlewit, Esq.
The story is a spoof of Lovecraft's antiquarian affectations. Littlewit, the narrator, is born August 20, 1690--200 years to the day before Lovecraft's birthdate-- making him nearly 228 years old as he writes a memoir.
Critic Daniel Harms
Daniel Harms
Daniel Harms is the author of the Encyclopedia Cthulhiana , co-author of The Necronomicon Files, and the originator of The Shadow over Usenet: a detailed online discussion of the works of H. P. Lovecraft. He is a lecturer on Lovecraft Circle literature and occult films...
writes, "While not one of the most inspired of his pieces, it at least
shows that HPL realized his pretensions... of being an older, cultured
gentleman of an earlier era, and could make fun of himself."
External links
- "A Reminiscence of Dr. Samuel Johnson"; complete text at Miskatonic University Department of Literature