H. P. Lovecraft: A Life
Encyclopedia
H. P. Lovecraft: A Life is a biography
of H. P. Lovecraft
(1890-1937) by S. T. Joshi
, first published by Necronomicon Press
in 1996. The original one-volume edition was reissued in 2004, with a new afterword by Joshi.
A new revised/uncut edition (as I Am Providence: The Life and Times of H.P. Lovecraft) (2 vols) has been issued in 2010 (Hippocampus Press); this restores 150,000 words cut for space reasons from the original edition, and is also thoroughly revised and updated in regard to new information on Lovecraft that has come to light since 1996. It may considered the last word on Lovecraft biography.
When first published in 1996, H. P. Lovecraft: A Life was regarded as a "meticulously researched"
biography of Lovecraft, taking account of all currently known facts about Lovecraft's life and work. It was met with critical praise; it elicited favorable comments from the horror author Ramsey Campbell
and literary critic Harold Bloom
, and received a long and favorable review in The New York Review of Books
from author Joyce Carol Oates
, who called it "the definitive biography".
It supplants earlier efforts such as L. Sprague de Camp
's Lovecraft: a Biography
(1975), which was widely criticised for a perceived lack of sympathy toward its subject and for numerous errors and omissions.
According to his website, Joshi regards this book his most notable achievement to date, followed by his The Weird Tale.
from the Horror Writers Association
.
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
of 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....
(1890-1937) by S. T. Joshi
S. T. Joshi
Sunand Tryambak Joshi — known as S. T. Joshi — is an award-winning Indian American literary critic, novelist, and a leading figure in the study of Howard Phillips Lovecraft and other authors of weird and fantastic fiction...
, first published by Necronomicon Press
Necronomicon Press
Necronomicon Press is an American small press publishing house specialising in fiction, poetry and literary criticism relating to the horror and fantasy genres. It is run by Marc A. Michaud....
in 1996. The original one-volume edition was reissued in 2004, with a new afterword by Joshi.
A new revised/uncut edition (as I Am Providence: The Life and Times of H.P. Lovecraft) (2 vols) has been issued in 2010 (Hippocampus Press); this restores 150,000 words cut for space reasons from the original edition, and is also thoroughly revised and updated in regard to new information on Lovecraft that has come to light since 1996. It may considered the last word on Lovecraft biography.
When first published in 1996, H. P. Lovecraft: A Life was regarded as a "meticulously researched"
biography of Lovecraft, taking account of all currently known facts about Lovecraft's life and work. It was met with critical praise; it elicited favorable comments from the horror author Ramsey Campbell
Ramsey Campbell
John Ramsey Campbell is an English horror fiction author.Since he first came to prominence in the mid-1960s, critics have cited Campbell as one of the leading writers in his field: T. E. D. Klein has written that "Campbell reigns supreme in the field today", while S. T...
and literary critic Harold Bloom
Harold Bloom
Harold Bloom is an American writer and literary critic, and is Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. He is known for his defense of 19th-century Romantic poets, his unique and controversial theories of poetic influence, and his prodigious literary output, particularly for a literary...
, and received a long and favorable review in The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books is a fortnightly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs. Published in New York City, it takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity...
from author Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates is an American author. Oates published her first book in 1963 and has since published over fifty novels, as well as many volumes of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction...
, who called it "the definitive biography".
It supplants earlier efforts such as L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
's Lovecraft: a Biography
Lovecraft: a Biography
Lovecraft: a Biography is a 1975 biography of the writer H. P. Lovecraft by science-fiction writer L. Sprague de Camp, first published in hardcover by Doubleday in February 1975. A later hardcover edition was issued by Barnes & Noble in January 1996. The first paperback edition, corrected and...
(1975), which was widely criticised for a perceived lack of sympathy toward its subject and for numerous errors and omissions.
According to his website, Joshi regards this book his most notable achievement to date, followed by his The Weird Tale.
Awards
H.P. Lovecraft: A Life was awarded the 1997 Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-FictionBram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction
The Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction is an award presented by the Horror Writers Association for "superior achievement" in horror writing for non-fiction.-Winners and nominees:Nominees are listed below the winner for each year....
from the Horror Writers Association
Horror Writers Association
The Horror Writers Association is a worldwide non-profit organization of professional writers and publishing professionals dedicated to promoting the interests of Horror and Dark Fantasy writers. It was formed in the 1980s with the help of many of the field's greats, including Joe Lansdale, Robert...
.