A Lovecraft scholar presents a penetrating study of the author's life, work, and connections to modern occultism.
Many practicing occultists have speculated that H. P. Lovecraft possessed in-depth knowledge of black magick. Yet literary scholars maintain the renowned horror writer was simply a master of his craft, and that the enduring power of his work is purely the result of his rich imagination.
In H.P. Lovecraft & the Black Magical Tradition, John L. Steadman examines the considerable overlap between the author's fictions and true occultism-and consider whether Lovecraft was a practitioner of the dark arts himself.
Weaving Lovecraft's biography together with literary criticism and modern magickal systems, Steadman demonstrates that Lovecraft's works-specifically his Cthulhu Mythos and his creation of the Necronomicon-represent the basis for a legitimate magickal system.
Autorentext
John L. Steadmanis a scholar of H. P. Lovecraft and western occultism and has been a magickal practitioner for more than thirty years. He is currently a college English professor at Olivet College in Michigan. Visit him at www.johnlsteadman.com.
Zusammenfassung
Explore Lovecraft's Deep Connections to the Dark Arts Modern practicing occultists have argued that renowned horror writer H. P. Lovecraft was in possession of in-depth knowledge of black magick. Literary scholars claim that he was a master of his genre and craft, and his findings are purely psychological, nothing more. Was Lovecraft a practitioner of the dark arts himself? Was he privileged to knowledge that cannot be otherwise explained? Weaving the life story of Lovecraft in and out of an analysis of various modern magickal systems, scholar John L. Steadman has found direct and concrete examples that demonstrate that Lovecraft's works and specifically his Cthulhu Mythos and his creation of the Necronomicon are a legitimate basis for a working magickal system. Whether you believe Lovecraft had supernatural powers or not, no one can argue against Lovecraft's profound influence on many modern black arts and the darker currents of western occultism.