In the Mountains of Madness: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. Lovecraft

W. Scott Poole

Catapult, Sep 13, 2016 - Literary Criticism - 320 pages

This “smart, shrewd, and insightful” biography of H.P. Lovecraft not only explores the author’s fascinating life but also reveals his “lasting power and influence” on the entertainment industry and society as a whole (Victor LaValle, author of The Changeling)

Interweaving the biography of the legendary writer with an exploration of Lovecraft as a phenomenon, In the Mountains of Madness strives to explain this reclusive, cultish figure while challenging some of the general views held by Lovecraft devotees. Focusing specifically on the large cross-section of horror and science fiction fans who know Lovecraft through films, role-playing games, and video games directly influenced by his work, but who know little or nothing about the man himself, In the Mountains of Madness places Lovecraft and his work in a cultural context, as an artist more in tune with our time than his own.

More than a traditional biography, this provocative book reclaims the true essence of Lovecraft in relation to the comics of Joe Lansdale, the novels of Stephen King, and some of the biggest blockbuster films in contemporary America, proving the undying influence of this rare and significant figure.

What people are saying

LibraryThing Review

User Review  - Paul_S - LibraryThing

You can tell the book has been written recently because instead of focusing on the subject it obsesses over the author's personal views and on explaining to the reader that racism is bad. Thank you ...

In the Mountains of Madness: The Life, Death, and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. Lovecraft

User Review  - W Scott Poole - Publishers Weekly

Historian Poole (Vampira: Dark Goddess of Horror) turns his scholarly attention to H.P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) in this highly readable, informal biography, which also surveys the iconic horror writer's ...

About the author

W. Scott Poole who teaches at the College of Charleston, has written widely about American history, horror, and pop culture. His books include Vampira: Dark Goddess of Horror and his award-winning history Monsters in America, which received the John G. Cawelti prize from the Popular Culture Association and was named among the "Best of the Best" by the AAUP for 2011. Poole is a regular contributor to Popmatters and his work has appeared in the Huffington Post, Religions Dispatches, and Killing the Buddha. He blogs at his website, monstersinamerica.com.

Bibliographic information

• Title: In the Mountains of Madness: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. Lovecraft
• Author: W. Scott Poole
• Publisher: Catapult, 2016
• ISBN: 1593766475, 9781593766474
• Length: 320 pages
• Subjects: Literary Criticism / Horror & Supernatural; Literary Criticism / Modern / 20th Century; Literary Criticism / Science Fiction & Fantasy