The Notes and Commonplace Book of H.P. Lovecraft


$ 12.95




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During his lifetime, HPL kept a listing of story ideas, concepts, and other elements which he might at some point include in his stories. He called this his "commonplace book". In 1938, just after HPL's death, his friend and literary executor, Robert H. Barlow printed HPL's commonplace book in an edition of just 75 copies. We thought it was high time for a new edition of the Commonplace Book, and here it is.

Working from high resolution photos of an original in the Library of Congress, we've created a typographic replica of the 1938 edition. To make it even more fun, we've also included materials Lovecraft wrote after he gave his manuscript to Barlow and which were not included in the 1938 edition. HPL also wrote plot summaries for more than fifty classic horror stories which were similarly omitted and are reproduced here for the first time. This volume also features an Afterword by Sean Branney and Andrew Leman of the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society.

Fans of HPL will see here many of the initial ideas which Lovecraft later used in the full version of his tales. They'll also gain insights into the creative process of the father of gothic fiction and master of the weird tale, H.P. Lovecraft.

In keeping with the proportions of the 1938 edition, this new edition from the HPLHS measures 6 7/8 inches by 4 1/4 inches. 108 pages.  

Customer Reviews

Based on 24 reviews
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K
Kip S.
Delightful Item

I'm greatly impressed by the amount of detail that goes into the products offered by HPLHS. If you want a glimpse into Lovecraft's creative process, this little book is for you. Recommended for ardent fans!

D
Dustin Ratliff

Excellent print, well-made. A hardbound version would be nice, since perfect-bound glued books have a limited lifespan. But this is still very nice.

A hardback is a fine idea, but this edition is made this way as it is a facsimile of a rare copy of the Commonplace Book that's at the U.S. Library of Congress. This is the same size, layout, and a comparable binding to that one.

G
G.Z.
It's a treasure

I  love this little book. It is a glimpse into Howard's personal thoughts on story concepts and methodology of writing. Notes that were purely for his own eyes. Almost like peeking into a diary. I love the two cat-centric story ideas, one of which was inspired by a black cat friend that Howard knew in Providence for over 20 years. It is bittersweet to read these and wonder how they would have turned out if he hadn't been taken from us so soon. I am also reviewing the titles of his summaries of the weird fiction of other authors he admired, checking off those I've read and making a list of the others. This book is a treasure and very special!

G
G.Z.
It's a treasure

I love this little book. It is a glimpse into Howard's personal thoughts on story concepts and methodology of writing. Notes that were purely for his own eyes. Almost like peeking into a diary. I love the two cat-centric story ideas, one of which was inspired by a black friend that Howard knew in Providence for 20 years. It is bittersweet to read these and wonder how they would have turned out if he hadn't been taken from us so soon. I am also reviewing the titles of his summaries of the weird fiction of other authors he admired, checking off those I've read and making a list of the others. This book is a treasure and very special!

M
Michael Nusbaum
Wolderful

A neat little book to add to my collection. I purchased it on the recommendation of a friend and am glad I did. It's great to read HPL's thoughts on essential elements of weird fiction, story ideas and other thoughts. This is great to stir your imagination if you're a writer or game master looking for new ideas to entertain readers and players.