Voluminous: The Letters of H.P. Lovecraft – Details, episodes & analysis

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 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.