H. P. Lovecraft

Date of Birth: August 20, 1890

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Date of Death: March 15, 1937

Biography

Howard Phillips Lovecraft, commonly known as H. P. Lovecraft, was an American writer of weird and horror fiction, who is best known for his creation of what became the Cthulhu Mythos. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Lovecraft spent most of his life in his hometown, leading a relatively isolated and financially strained life. Despite this, Lovecraft’s vivid imagination and unique style have had a lasting impact on the genre of horror fiction, influencing countless writers and filmmakers. Lovecraft’s work, largely published in pulp magazines during his lifetime, often explored themes of forbidden knowledge, the fragility of sanity, and the insignificance of humanity in the vast cosmos. His most famous works include “The Call of Cthulhu,” “At the Mountains of Madness,” and “The Shadow over Innsmouth.” Although virtually unknown during his lifetime, Lovecraft’s reputation grew posthumously, and he is now regarded as one of the most significant 20th-century authors in his genre. His legacy lives on through the continued popularity of his stories and the frequent adaptations and expansions of his mythos in various media.

5 Interesting Facts about H. P. Lovecraft

1. Lovecraft’s father was committed to a mental institution when Lovecraft was just three years old, where he later died.

2. He was a prodigious reader and writer from a young age, composing his first poem at the age of six.

3. Lovecraft was largely self-educated, having dropped out of high school due to a nervous breakdown.

4. He was part of a large network of writers with whom he maintained extensive correspondence, influencing and being influenced by contemporaries such as Robert E. Howard and August Derleth.

5. Lovecraft’s work has inspired a subgenre of horror known as “Lovecraftian horror,” characterized by cosmic dread and the insignificance of humanity.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from H. P. Lovecraft

1. “The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”

2. “That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die.”

3. “I am disillusioned and indifferent—a Faust without a soul.”

4. “The world is indeed comic, but the joke is on mankind.”

5. “Pleasure to me is wonder—the unexplored, the unexpected, the thing that is hidden and the changeless thing that lurks behind superficial mutability.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

H. P. Lovecraft achieved little financial success during his lifetime, often struggling with poverty. His highest net worth is estimated to be very modest, as he was primarily published in low-paying pulp magazines.