H.P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft was born in the USA in 1890 but had a difficult childhood because his father went mad and spent the rest of his life in a mental hospital. The young Lovecraft lived with his grandfather who taught him to love reading – especially horror stories. Sadly, his mother became mad soon after his grandfather’s death, and died in the same hospital as her husband.
Lovecraft’s marriage was unsuccessful (but friendly). He never had much money and did not become well-known for his books. He died in 1937 of cancer and hunger. Since his death, Lovecraft’s horror stories have become famous in the English-speaking world.
Articles by H.P. Lovecraft
The Terrible Old Man
Pre-IntermediateFiction
This very short horror story, is about a strange old sea captain who lives alone and buys everything he needs with old gold coins. Three thieves decide to visit him one night but get more than they expect. (855 words)
Cool Air
AdvancedFiction
H. P. Lovecraft is best known for horror stories but here he mixes horror and science fiction in a tale of a strange, old Doctor who never leaves his apartment, which he keeps as cold as possible. Gradually, we realise why. (2,440 words)
The Alchemist
Upper-IntermediateFiction
An ancient family is haunted by a wizard's curse after the murder of his son in the thirteenth century. Hundreds of years later, the last Lord spends his life trying to find the secret of the curse and so prevent his death on his 32nd birthday. (2,557 words)