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Occult scholar Donald Tyson plumbs the depths of H. P. Lovecraft's cosmic visions and horrific dream world to examine, warts and all, the strange life of the man who created the Necronomiconand the Cthulhu mythos. Lovecraft expressed disdain for magic and religion, and most of his biographers have dismissed the mystical side of his nature. This book redresses this imbalance. Here you will find the roots of Lovecraft' extraordinary cosmic vision laid bare. The dream-world sources for his mythic Old Ones are examined, along with the practical esoteric implications of Lovecraft's unique mythology. A man in fundamental conflict with himself, Lovecraft lived always on the brink of madness or suicide. Tyson reveals Lovecraft for what he truly was--a dreamer, an astral traveler, and the prophet of a New Age. Praise: "The Dream World of H. P. Lovecraft is a thought-provoking and intellectually stimulating book. Its fusion of sound biographical knowledge and critical insight makes it a must-read for Lovecraftians."--S.T. Joshi, Leading Authority on H. P. Lovecraft… (more)
User reviews
It makes so much sense --
I would definitely recommend this to any Lovecraft fan and scholar who is looking for something new in an HPL bio. While Tyson has culled much material from sources those of us who follow the author's life are already familiar with, he consistently returns our gaze from that chronological biography to the current of the dreamworld that drove Lovecraft's writing into vivid contemplation of the cosmic planes.
More conservative Lovecraft scholars may scoff at Tyson's occasional forays into wild speculation, but I feel that there is room for such pondering. He declares no real convictions when it comes to these elements, and instead turns them in his hand for us to see and ponder as well, knowing that none of us will ever know completely what drove Lovecraft and what still draws us to him today. It is well to remember that there may yet be unexamined facets of Lovecraft -- HPL scholars have trod too-similar paths over many decades. This fresh night wind on the cheek of the interested reader is a fine gift from Tyson.