Voluminous: The Letters of H.P. Lovecraft

In what may be our last episode, we explore two letters: one from early in HPL's life and one from near the end. We reflect on what we've learned over a multi-year deep dive into HPL's letters and what it means to a be a Lovecraft fan.

In which a letter from HPL to Clark Ashton Smith is dissected by Sean, Andrew and our special guest hosts: Chris Lackey and Chad Fifer of the podcast Strange Studies of Strange Stories. It's an episode brimming with weird tales, and of course, cats.

In which guest podcaster Martin Andersson of Sweden joins Sean and Andrew for a discussion of a challenging letter. Classic topics like HPL's favorite foods hide in the shadows cast by topics like police brutality and slavery. Not for the faint of heart.

A super-sized episode about one of HPL's longest letters. In this 70 page monster, HPL writes to Woodburn Harris and covers topics such as ethics, aesthetics, art, and the fall of the Roman Empire. Content warning: this episode features a few instances of the word we bleep. Brace yourself - we're going to be here for a while...

In which HPL engages with Texas author Robert E. Howard in a feisty debate about police brutality, chivalry, barbarianism and more. But all is well in the end as they celebrate their mutual love of cats and ice cream.

We explore a feisty letter from HPL to Frank Belknap Long. It's part of a recent acquisition of Lovecraft letters donated to the John Hay Library at Brown. Sean & Andrew visit the Hay for a chat with HPL's personal librarian: Heather Cole.

In which Sean and Andrew record a live show at NecronomiCon Providence. There they read an exchange of letters published in the newspaper between a local astronomy enthusiast and the astronomically inclined HPL. Hilarity ensues.

In which HPL writes young Donald Wandrei and opines about man's place in the vastness of the cosmos. Sean and Andrew discuss the Webb telescope and the history of man's understanding of the universe.

In which HPL writes his Aunt Lillian a diary letter describing a month of his life while living with Sonia in New York. He recounts two outings to Elizabeth, New Jersey and numerous excursions with his New York pals. Bleep Warning: this episode contains three instances of the word we bleep. https://www.hplhs.org/voluminous74.php

In which publisher E. Haldeman-Julius writes ABOUT a letter from H.P. Lovecraft in which HPL provided lists of his favorite and least favorite people in history. Hear HPL celebrate Epicurus and Remy de Gourmont while he bags on T.S. Eliot and Jesus.

In which HPL writes to J. Vernon Shea about his wonderful new flat at 66 College Street. He also talks about Nazis and movies which leads Sean and Andrew to discuss the Hays Code in motion pictures, Elvis and much more.

In which HPL vigorously engages with fellow author Robert E. Howard regarding barbarism, civilization, the Wild West and European nations invading neighboring countries.

In which HPL writes to his "grandson" Frank Belknap Long of his explorations of never-before-seen neighborhoods of old colonial Providence, including Federal Hill with its many Italian immigrants. We are proud to bring you the complete version of this letter which has previously only been published as a very brief excerpt! Be sure to visit the web page for this episode to see new info we did not have at recording time.

HPL's correspondence with his amateur press buddy Edward H. Cole is revealed through six letters. Spanning decades, the letters explore art criticism, colonial architecture, condolences, and even a letter to a six month old baby!

In which HPL writes his friend Samuel Loveman of goings on in the amateur press world and then recounts his visits to witch-haunted Salem and Newburyport - the inspiration for Innsmouth!

In which HPL discusses James F. Morton's plan to write detective stories about mineralogists and in which a "dickybird" stamp goes missing from an envelope. Detective hijinks abound in this lighthearted letter.

In which Lovecraft writes to Bernard Austin Dwyer and recalls his difficult days living in Red Hook, New York two years before. Life in a rough and diverse neighborhood taxed him sorely. Fittingly, we cover Morton's "The Curse of Race Prejudice" too.

In which HPL prepares for a trip to DeLand, Florida to visit his young correspondent Robert H. Barlow. HPL offers travel tips, thoughts on mental health, and a robust breakdown of the latest issue of Weird Tales in preparation for his trip to visit his young friend.

In which HPL sends a bunch of postcards to his aunts while on a visit with Vrest Orton in Vermont. HPL rhapsodizes about the glorious scenery and survival of old New England. And he gets a few ideas for a story that will take place in Vermont...

A letter from June 24, 1933, in which HPL writes his old friend Alfred Galpin, sharing his joy about his new digs at 66 College Street and many other thoughts. Galpin was a composer, and music abounds in this episode. Be sure to check the web page for a re-creation of the 1933 Spring Festival of Music! And we are most proud to present a newly orchestrated version of Galpin's composition "A Lament for HPL" by Reber Clark.

A pair of letters in which HPL writes to his New Orleans friend E. Hoffman Price and discusses some of his favorite things: writing weird fiction, playing with kittens, and the unplumbed allure of East Indian curry!

In which HPL writes to Frank Belknap Long and, as usual, discusses a great many topics including cheese. And in which Sean & Andrew tell the tale of the acquisition of HPL's letters to FBL by Brown University.

In which we explore four letters from HPL to Farnsworth Wright, the editor of Weird Tales. Over a nine year period, we see the evolution of their relationship and delve into topics including the submission of "The Call of Cthulhu", a mystery tale by Zealia Bishop, and the untimely death of Robert E. Howard.

In one of the last letters of his life, HPL writes to author C.L. Moore. Is this the fabled letter in which Lovecraft rejects his racist attitudes? No, but the letter's a doozy all the same, addressing art, politics, the royal family and much more.

In which HPL writes to one of his only overseas correspondents, Arthur Harris in Wales. This pair or letters documents his visit to Nantucket Island and the wonders of the astronomical devices in the Hayden Planetarium in New York.

In which, on March 2 of 1927, HPL writes to Paul J. Campbell, one of his mentors in the amateur press movement. Lovecraft has plenty to say about the rise of fascism, the decline of western civilization and the untyped manuscripts in his drawer.

Happy New Year! In this letter from November of 1916, the young HPL tells his friend Rheinhart Kleiner about his early childhood. Many details are revealed, and yet many mysteries remain. Please be advised the letter contains a word that is bleeped a couple of times.

Immortality! Booze! Police brutality! Graphic violence! In a special episode recorded live from the HPL Film Festival with guest commentator Stephen Fazio, HPL continues an ongoing conversation with Robert E. Howard about the comparative appeals of civilization and barbarianism. Please note: the audio quality is a little different than usual because of the different recording circumstances.

In which an ebullient HPL squeals with joy at his aunt's invitation for him to leave New York and return home to his beloved Providence. Sure, there's interesting topics like Freud, M.R. James, and abiogenesis, but mostly Howard's excited to come home.

In which the newlywed HPL writes his aunt Lillian, inviting her to come live with him and his wife. What could be more fun than that? How about a through examination of the colonial architecture of Philadelphia and New York City? More fun than it sounds! CONTENT ADVISORY: Although racism is not a major topic in this letter or the discussion, there are some passing slurs in the letter which have been bleeped.

Two letters from Lovecraft to Smith display HPL's great enthusiasm for Smith's work as both writer and illustrator. He optimistically discusses a new magazine called Weird Tales which might prove to be a good destination for their stories.

In part two of a long letter to Robert E. Howard, HPL discusses the Salem Witch Trials and their connection to witch cults in Western Europe. He also touches on immigration and his own genealogy.

In the first part of a long letter to Robert E. Howard, Lovecraft shares many thoughts including the fascinating and sometimes horrifying history of Rhode Island.

In which HPL writes to one of his revision clients, Adolphe Danziger de Castro. Lovecraft's frayed nerves cause him to decline taking on future revisions for de Castro, but he enthusiastically discusses Jesus as a historical figure among other topics.

In which, following a disastrous experience of living in New York, Lovecraft celebrates his homecoming to his beloved Providence. Hear an emotional HPL sing the praises of a return to the place he loved most.

In which HPL writes to R.H. Barlow, who will go on to be his literary executor. This letter shines a light on why Lovecraft might have selected him for the job, as young Mr. Barlow is already at work protecting HPL's legacy. Here's the strange sigil with which HPL signed this letter:

In which HPL tells his friends Kleiner and Moe of his early encounters with Madame Greene (who will go on to become Mrs. Lovecraft). Is HPL the leading man in a romantic comedy or is he merely a Providence tour guide caught up in forces beyond his control?

In which HPL writes to a young friend of Clark Ashton Smith, telling of his travels in St. Augustine, Florida. The travelogue segues into useful advice about dealing with depression and communists.

In which HPL breaks some big news to his poor Aunt Lillian. HPL's run off and married Sonia Greene in New York! This letter is amazing not just for what HPL reveals, but for how he reveals this shocking news.

In which HPL writes to the young writer Emil Petaja. Learn whether or not Ibsen is a "weird author", how to pronounce Emil's surname, and many other great tidbits of knowledge.

In a letter of August 1923 to original Weird Tales editor Edwin Baird, HPL talks a bit of business before describing his plan to visit a legendary site of dark mystery and monster-inhabited potholes with his friend C.M. Eddy, Jr. Then as a bonus we'll hear him describe how the plan worked out in a letter to Frank Belknap Long from November 8 of the same year.

In this rare letter from March of 1923 to poet Samuel Loveman, HPL speaks with great sensitivity about their mutual friend Alfred Galpin, and somewhat less sensitivity about his own wife, Sonia Greene.

In which HPL writes to Wilfred Talman, abjectly apologizing for miscommunication regarding the idea of HPL writing a novel. This letter from late in Lovecraft's life is revealing about both his work and his concerns for his young friend's reputation.

In which HPL writes to his friend Maurice Moe and questions the truth (or lack thereof) in religion. Lovecraft gives a spirited argument to his friend while leaving plenty of room for them to agree to disagree.

In which HPL writes to C.L. Moore, one of his female correspondents. Howard unleashes a torrent of thoughts on life in the Great Depression and the response of political parties to the challenge of the times. Not for the politically squeamish.

Written during his time in New York, this letter to HPL's Aunt Lillian discusses day to day issues like laundry, and more impactful issues like the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918. Please be sure to visit the web page for this episode for lots of images and bonus information!

In this letter from 1933, HPL speaks candidly to his young friend Robert Bloch about the recently-elected Chancellor of Germany: Adolf Hitler. Lovecraft carefully explains his opinions about the ongoing rise of the Nazi party. CONTENT WARNING: This letter covers some intense issues and contains explicitly and intensely racist language.

In part two of his letter to the Gallomo, HPL describes another key figure he's become acquainted with: Frank Belknap Long. This young man from New York goes on to become HPL's colleague, business partner, and one of his closest friends.

In part one of this long letter from the summer of 1921, HPL tells his buddies in the Gallomo of a return to his boyhood clubhouse as a middle aged man. He regales his friends with accounts of his active social life, including a meeting with an intriguing woman: the future Mrs. Lovecraft. Visit the Voluminous web page for this episode for music and other bonus images. Below is a photo of all that remains of the Great Meadow Country Clubhouse: the fireplace built by Civil War veteran James McKay. This photo was taken and generously shared by our friend Donovan Loucks, who runs The H.P. Lovecraft Archive. Be sure to check it out for more pictures from HPL's happy summer of 1921.

In which, during tumultuous times, the HPLHS opts not to read a letter. Don't worry - we'll be back. Here are a couple of other podcasts that are worth your time this week: Fanti The Memory Palace

In this letter of July 2, 1929 to Maurice Moe, HPL discusses his thoughts on marriage and, more importantly, divorce. Written after the collapse of his own marriage, Lovecraft is quite candid about the institution and his personal life. Thanks to our friends at Hippocampus Press. HPL mentions Judge Benjamin Lindsey in this letter, who co-authored The Companionate Marriage with Wainright Evans in 1927.