The Letters of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard Volume One: 1930-1932
H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard are two of the titans of weird fiction of their era. Dominating the pages of Weird Tales in the 1920s and 1930s, they have gained worldwide followings for their compelling writings and also for the very different lives they led. The two writers came in touch in 1930, when Howard wrote to Lovecraft via Weird Tales. A rich and vibrant correspondence immediately ensued. Both writers were fascinated with the past, especially the history of Roman and Celtic Britain, and their letters are full of intriguing discussions of contemporary theories on this subject.
Gradually, a new discussion came to the fore-a complex dispute over the respective virtues of barbarism and civilisation, the frontier and settled life, and the physical and the mental. Lovecraft, a scion of centuries-old New England, and Howard, a product of recently settled Texas, were diametrically opposed on these and other issues, and each writes compellingly of his beliefs, attitudes, and theories. The result is a dramatic debate-livened by wit, learning, and personal revelation-that is as enthralling as the fiction they were writing at the time. All the letters have been exhaustively annotated by the editors.
Contents
- 7 • Introduction (A Means to Freedom: The Letters of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard) • essay by The Editors
- 12 • A Note on This Edition (A Means to Freedom: The Letters of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard) • essay by uncredited
- 15 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [July 1, 1930] (“I am indeed highly honored to have received…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. July 1, 1930 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I am indeed highly honored…”) 2007)
- 23 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, July 20, 1930 (“I was greatly interested in your letter…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 31 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, no postmark (“Old Salem with its special memories…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 32 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [August 9, 1930] (“Let me first thank you for the opportunity…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, ca. August 1930 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Let me first thank you for the opportunity…”) 1989)
- 38 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, August 14, 1930 (“…Concerning early Europe and the ‘little people’…:) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 41 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, September 1, 1930 (“This place surpasses all my expectations…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 41 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [ca. September 1930] (“I envy you your sojourn in Quebec…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, ca. September 1930 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I envy you your sojourn in Quebec…”) 1989)
- 46 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. September 1930] (“I am very glad that you enjoyed your visit to Quebec…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, ca. September 1930 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I am very glad that you enjoyed…”) 1989)
- 52 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, October 4, 1930 (“…I agree with what you say about suggestion…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 80 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. October 1930] (“It is with greatest delight that I learn Mr. Wright…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, ca. October 1930 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / It is with greatest delight that I learn…”) 1989)
- 86 • Reuben’s Brethren • (1969) • poem by Robert E. Howard
- 97 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. December 1930] (“As always, your letter proved highly enjoyable…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, ca. December 1930 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / As always, your letter proved highly enjoyable…”) 1989) – Contains ‘A Dream‘
- 117 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. January 1931] (“As always, I found your recent letter most interesting…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard
- 132 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, January 30, 1931 (“…Your rattlesnake anecdotes are surely interesting…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 146 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. January 1931?] (“This is rather a belated letter thanking you…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. January 1931?] (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / This is rather a belated letter thanking you…”) 2002)
- 147 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. February 1931] (“I highly appreciate your intention for me to retain…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [ca. February 1931] (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I highly appreciate your intention for me to retain…”) 2002)
- 164 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. March 1, 1931] (“I’m writing this letter only some two hundred thirty-odd…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. February 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I’m writing this letter only some two…”) 2007)
- 165 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, [c. May 1931] (“Well- I’ve struck your ancient Spanish country at last…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 166 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. June 1931] (“I didn’t take much of a trip after all…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. early June 1931] (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I didn’t take much of a trip after all…”) 2002)
- 178 • The Grim Land • (1976) • poem by Robert E. Howard
- 180 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [July 14, 1931] (“Just a line to congratulate you on…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, July 14, 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Just a line to congratulate you…”) 2007)
- 181 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, August 6, 1931 (“I trust you have not wholly given me up for lost…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 189 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. week of August 10, 1931] (“You must indeed have had a delightful journey…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. August 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / You must indeed have had a delightful journey…”) 2007)
- 207 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, August 24, 1931 (“New England’s oldest!…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 207 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, September 12, 1931 (“…As for atavism and racial memory…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 215 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, [c. mid-October 1931] (“Here’s a new tale which Talman asked me…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 215 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [October 1931] (“Thanks for the post-card views…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. October 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Thanks for the post-card views…”) 2007)
- 217 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [mid-October 1931] (“I intended to answer your very interesting letter…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. October 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I intended to answer your very interesting letter sooner…”) 2007)
- 231 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. October 1931] (“Many thanks for the opportunity of reading your magnificent…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, ca. October 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Many thanks for the opportunity of reading…”) 2007)
- 231 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, October 30, 1931 (“…As usual, your Texas reminiscences proved…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 236 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [December 9, 1931] (“I would have answered your letter…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, December 9, 1931 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I would have answered your letter long ago…”) 2007)
- 238 • Arkham • (1932) • poem by Robert E. Howard
- 240 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, December 26, 1931 (“Your interesting letter duly arrived…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 251 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, [c. January 2, 1932] (“Behold the neo-Georgian splendors…”) • essay by W. Paul Cook and H. P. Lovecraft
- 251 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, January 9, 1932 (“Thanks tremendously for the varied material…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 252 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. early January 1932] (“Yes, I enjoyed the postcards very much…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. January 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Yes, I enjoyed the postcards very much…”) 2007)
- 260 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, January 16, 1932 (“I’m glad my discourse on High and Low German…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 268 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, January 26, 1932 (“Thanks for the final Thevenin article…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 268 • Postcard to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. February 1932] (“This isn’t to flaunt my homely countenance…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Postcard to H. P. Lovecraft, ca. February 1932 (“This isn’t to flaunt my homely countenance…”) 2007)
- 269 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [March 2, 1932] (“I’m finally getting around to replying to your letter…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To. H. P. Lovecraft, March 2, 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I’m finally getting around to replying to your letter…”) 2007)
- 278 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. April 1932] (“At last I’ve gotten around to answering…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. April 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / At last I’ve gotten around to answering…”) 2007)
- 285 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, May 7, 1932 (“Your interesting letter, the note, the postcard…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 291 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [24 May 1932?] (“Glad you liked the Oriental story…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, May 24, 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Glad you liked the Oriental story…”) 2007)
- 303 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, June 8, 1932 (“Well—I’m writing you from a considerably lesser distance…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 314 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, June 14, 1932 (“Thanks profoundly for our unexpected & happily inspired…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 314 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, June 21, 1932 (“Greetings from an old Confederate capital…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 314 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [July 13, 1932] (“It is with the utmost humiliation that I begin…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, July 13, 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / It is with the utmost humiliation that I begin…”) 2007)
- 330 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, July 25, 1932 (“This reply to your admirably interesting…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 337 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [August 9, 1932] (“I am very sorry to hear of your recent bereavement…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, August 9, 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I am very sorry to hear of your recent…”) 2007)
- 358 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, August 16, 1932 (“I cannot even begin to compete with your…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 376 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, August 21, 1932 (“Just recd. your note. Here’s another Newport view…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 376 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, September 14, 1932 (“Greetings from a conclave of spectre-chasers!…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft and Donald Wandrei
- 377 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [received September 22, 1932] (“I read, as always, your comments on the Greco-Roman…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard
- 400 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, September 22, 1932 (“Many thanks for the interesting issue…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 401 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, October 3, 1932 (“Your highly interesting letter duly arrived, and I have…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 430 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, October 15, 1932 (“Thanks prodigiously for the splendid set…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 431 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. October 1932] (“I hope you decide to collaborate on the proposed…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. October 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I hope you decide to collaborate…”) 2007)
- 432 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [received November 2, 1932] (“I want to begin this letter by an apology…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, received November 2, 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / I want to begin this letter by an apology…”) 1991)
- 457 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [c. November 1932] (“Here’s a clipping that might be of some interest…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. November 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Here’s a clipping that might be of some interest…”) 2007)
- 458 • Postcard to Robert E. Howard, November 13, 1932 (“Thanks exceedingly for the very interesting cutting…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 458 • Letter to Robert E. Howard, November 7-11, 1932 (“Your intensely interesting letter duly arrived, and I have digested it…”) • essay by H. P. Lovecraft
- 488 • Letter to H. P. Lovecraft, [December 1932] (“Having read your latest letter with the greatest interest…”) • [Letters to H. P. Lovecraft] • (2002) • essay by Robert E. Howard (variant of To H. P. Lovecraft, ca. December 1932 (“Dear Mr. Lovecraft: / Having read your latest letter with the…”) 2007)
- Notes
Publisher : | Hippocampus Press |
Year : | August 2009 |
Replica by: | |
Format : | Hardcover (2009), Trade Paperback (March 2011), Trade paperback 2nd. ed. (January 2017) |
Pages : | 511 |
Cover : | David C. Verba |
Illustrations : | None |
Notes
Only available as a 2 volume set of 345 copies.
The first volume has 511 pages.
Edited by S. T. Joshi, David E. Schultz and Rusty Burke.
“First Edition” on copyright page.
The text shows where missing/nonextant letters fall by both authors.
Letters are not titled.
Howard seldom dated his letters. [Dates] were sometimes noted by HPL from postmarks, sometimes estimated (by HPL or the editors) from content.
End notes generally follow the letters.
Limited first edition of 1000 trade paperback copies with sewn signatures and French flaps.
The second edition is perfect bound and Print On Demand. No French flaps.
The second volume of the 2nd edition is 2 pages longer because of the addition of an Addendum with quotations from Lovecraft’s letters that appeared in the letters of Robert E. Howard.
There are Lovecraft quotes from:
REH to Tevis Clyde Smith, September 1930,
“Well, Fear Finn: / I hope you’ll sell the duelling story.”
REH to Tevis Clyde Smith, September 1930,
“Well, Fear Finn, me bauld braw Hieland bully . . .”