Sunand Tryambak Joshi is een vooraanstaand literatuurwetenschapper wiens werk zich richt op auteurs van horror en fantasy. Hij staat bekend om zijn diepgaande analyses van H.P. Lovecraft, over wie hij een definitieve biografie schreef. Joshi's kritiek valt op door de nadruk op leesbaarheid en de exploratie van de dominante wereldbeelden van auteurs als Arthur Machen, Algernon Blackwood en Lord Dunsany. Zijn studies duiken zowel in klassieke als moderne schrijvers, waarbij hij hun werken vanuit een filosofisch georiënteerd perspectief analyseert.
May Sinclair's collection showcases her mastery of weird fiction, blending supernatural elements with deep psychological exploration. The stories, drawn from her notable works "Uncanny Stories" and "The Intercessor and Other Stories," highlight her focus on interpersonal relationships and the complexities of human emotions. Utilizing motifs like ghosts and psychic phenomena, Sinclair reveals profound insights into human vulnerability, making her a significant figure in early 20th-century English literature.
The second volume of S. T. Joshi's history delves into the Golden Age of weird fiction at the turn of the twentieth century, highlighting influential authors like Arthur Machen, H. P. Lovecraft, and M. R. James, who transformed the genre into a high art form. It examines the legacy of these writers and their impact on subsequent generations, including Ray Bradbury and Shirley Jackson, who grounded horror in everyday life. The evolution of weird fiction continues today with contemporary authors pushing its boundaries, showcasing its enduring appeal and literary significance.
The book delves into the intricacies of supernatural literature, offering insightful critiques and analyses that challenge conventional interpretations. It examines key themes, character developments, and narrative techniques, illuminating how these elements contribute to the genre's depth. Through a thoughtful exploration of various works, the author provides readers with a deeper understanding of the supernatural's role in literature and its impact on culture and society. This critical perspective invites both enthusiasts and scholars to reconsider their engagement with the genre.
Reflecting on his journey through the weird fiction landscape, S. T. Joshi recounts his life from his childhood in India to his influential role in the U.S. literary scene. His passion for H.P. Lovecraft began in high school and flourished at Brown University, where he delved into classical languages and the Lovecraft Collection. By 1982, he emerged as a prominent expert on Lovecraft, significantly impacting the field through his work on corrected texts, which transformed the study of this iconic writer.
Focusing on the evolution of weird fiction, this study examines its history from ancient texts like the Epic of Gilgamesh to the late 19th century. S. T. Joshi highlights influential works by Greek and Latin authors, as well as key figures in Gothic fiction such as Horace Walpole and Mary Shelley. The analysis includes Edgar Allan Poe's groundbreaking blend of psychological and supernatural horror, along with contributions from writers like J. Sheridan Le Fanu and Bram Stoker, showcasing how weird fiction developed into a genre of both popular and aesthetic significance.
When 22-year-old Alison Mannering returns to her home in northeastern Pennsylvania after college, she finds a troubling situation. Her father, Guy Mannering, a longtime coal miner, has died recently under suspicious circumstances, and her mother refuses to provide any details of his passing. Alison feels she has no option but to investigate the matter herself, enlisting her high school sweetheart, Randy Kroeber, as well as Randy’s twin sister, Andrea called Andy, to assist her. In the process, Alison and her cohorts become enmeshed in an inconceivable horror that goes back a century or more and is somehow involved with the coal mine, now controlled by the remote and enigmatic Conrad Brashear. Beyond the possibility of danger or death to herself and her friends, Alison comes to realise that what is lurking in and below the mine poses a mortal threat to the safety of the planet. In this compelling novella, veteran scholar of weird fiction S. T. Joshi has fashioned a novella of cosmic horror that draws upon the work of Lovecraft, Hodgson, and other classic writers, but that also etches the characters of his protagonists with clarity and sensitivity. The result is a distinctive fusion of weirdness and poignancy that will leave few readers unmoved.
A definitive collection of stories from the unrivaled master of twentieth-century horror in a Penguin Classics Deluxe edition with cover art by Travis Louie Frequently imitated and widely influential, Howard Philips Lovecraft reinvented the horror genre in the 1920s, discarding ghosts and witches and instead envisioning mankind as a tiny outpost of dwindling sanity in a chaotic and malevolent universe. S. T. Joshi, Lovecraft's preeminent interpreter, presents a selection of the master's fiction, from the early tales of nightmares and madness such as "The Outsider" to the overpowering cosmic terror of "The Call of Cthulhu." More than just a collection of terrifying tales, this volume reveals the development of Lovecraft's mesmerizing narrative style and establishes him as a canonical - and visionary - American writer. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Features sixteen stories inspired by the 20th century's great master of
horror, H P Lovecraft, and his acknowledged masterpiece, At the Mountains of
Madness.
Exploring the life and literary contributions of H.P. Lovecraft, this critical guide offers in-depth analysis from a leading scholar in the field. It delves into Lovecraft's unique style and themes, solidifying his status as a pivotal figure in early 20th-century horror fiction. The work serves as an essential resource for understanding Lovecraft's influence on the genre and his enduring legacy.
