Horror author H.P. Lovecraft has for years been a misunderstood figure, portrayed by other writers as a misanthrope or neurotic. Conover's collection of letters from Lovecraft produce a rare book wherein the Lovecraft that emerges from these pages is humorous, garrulous, and candid.
| ||||||||||||
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By Earl P. Dean
Format:Hardcover
In reading this book, we see the enthusiasm of Willis Conover at fifteen years old, as he starts the Science Fiction Correspondence Club with some penpal fans. When interest in that dwindles, he and another boy from the group decide to refocus their efforts onto producing a good fan magazine. Conover starts by soliciting material from several science fiction and fantasy writers in order to fill the early issues of it, the Science Fantasy Correspondent. Little does he know that his letters to H.P. Lovecraft are taken very seriously by the great writer. As this becomes more apparent, we see Willis cautious at first, then more and more open and exuberant. Lovecraft at Last is an in depth look at their correspondence, with letters arranged chronologically so we can see the flow of their conversations. Within its pages, we get a fascinating view of a relationship between two unlikely friends.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Informal Look At The Master of the Macabre
May 11 2000
By "gsibbery"
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
This book consists of a series of letters exchanged by Howard Phillips Lovecraft and Willis Conover, a 12-year-old boy at the time, in 1936 and 1937. It gives us a surprisingly relaxed and informal view of Lovecraft. Included is one of Lovecraft's poems, Homecoming, which was later published in his "Fungi From Yuggoth", his ideas on how the short story must be written, and a general discusssion of topics that interested him. He syas bluntly here the the Necronomicon was a book that he made up, and he goes to a great deal of trouble to answer Conover's questions in an intelligent and mature manner (I wonder how many other writers would have shown as much consideration to a 12-year-old child?). Also, he discusses his economic situation, "Weird Tales" magazine, his love of the eighteenth century, his critical view of his own work, and various topics that other writers have talked to him about. included are several pictures as well as the letter that Lovecraft's aunt wrote to Conover upon his death of stomach cancer. A very intimate look at the father of modern horror literature.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Some touching correspondence between icon and fan...
Jun 11 2003
By Earl P. Dean
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
In reading this book, we see the enthusiasm of Willis Conover at fifteen years old, as he starts the Science Fiction Correspondence Club with some penpal fans. When interest in that dwindles, he and another boy from the group decide to refocus their efforts onto producing a good fan magazine. Conover starts by soliciting material from several science fiction and fantasy writers in order to fill the early issues of it, the Science Fantasy Correspondent. Little does he know that his letters to H.P. Lovecraft are taken very seriously by the great writer. As this becomes more apparent, we see Willis cautious at first, then more and more open and exuberant. Lovecraft at Last is an in depth look at their correspondence, with letters arranged chronologically so we can see the flow of their conversations. Within its pages, we get a fascinating view of a relationship between two unlikely friends.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A RARE AND WONDERFUL BOOK!
Nov 21 2009
By W. H. Pugmire
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
This superb book is now extremely rare -- and the prices asked for here are very reasonable. The rumor is that, shortly after this new edition was published, many if not a majority of the copies were destroyed in a warehouse fire. As a tribute to H. P. Lovecraft, this is heart-felt and genuine. The first edition of this book was a work of art -- Conover even reprinted some of Lovecraft's handwriting in the actual color of the ink that Lovecraft used in his pen when he wrote to the young Conover.
This newer edition features a long and fascinating and informed introduction by S. T. Joshi, the world's leading Lovecraft scholar. This is followed by a forward by Harold Taylor and a preface by Willis Conover. And then the wondrous history unfolds, of science fiction fandom in its Golden Age, and of Conover's enthusiastic involvement with it -- which led to his friendship by correspo0ndence with H. P. Lovecraft. Th following core of the book is an imaginative reproduction of Lovecraft's letters to Willis Conover, with some of the actual letters reproduced, and with extremely fascinating commentary by Conover. We find not only letters but essays and poems by the Master.
As a record of Lovecraft's kindness to young fans, and of his generous friendship with complete strangers, this book is a magnificent testimony. Any real fan of H. P. Lovecraft will treasure this wonderful book.
This newer edition features a long and fascinating and informed introduction by S. T. Joshi, the world's leading Lovecraft scholar. This is followed by a forward by Harold Taylor and a preface by Willis Conover. And then the wondrous history unfolds, of science fiction fandom in its Golden Age, and of Conover's enthusiastic involvement with it -- which led to his friendship by correspo0ndence with H. P. Lovecraft. Th following core of the book is an imaginative reproduction of Lovecraft's letters to Willis Conover, with some of the actual letters reproduced, and with extremely fascinating commentary by Conover. We find not only letters but essays and poems by the Master.
As a record of Lovecraft's kindness to young fans, and of his generous friendship with complete strangers, this book is a magnificent testimony. Any real fan of H. P. Lovecraft will treasure this wonderful book.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 6 reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
