The Shadow over Innsmouth (1936)

 HALLOWEEN REVIEWS 2023

by H.P. Lovecraft



A young antiquarian on a tour of New England villages is stranded in the seaside town of Innsmouth, where he learns about unknown horrors that threaten mankind.

 


This is Lovecraft at his best.

 

H.P. Lovecraft


The nightmarish town is fully realized, a menacingly quiet place where something terrible always seems to be just out of sight.

 


This novella is unique for a couple of reasons.

 


It is the only one of his stories that was published as a book during his lifetime.

 


Also, it features a very effective and suspenseful chase sequence from an author who rarely wrote action scenes.

 

"The Innsmouth Nightmare" (French)


Lovecraft’s preoccupation with mental degradation (perhaps not surprising in a man both of whose parents died in mental institutions) is also evident as our hero becomes aware of his intimate ties with the region and its dark history, casting into doubt everything he thinks he knows about himself.

 

"The Shadow over Innsmouth" (Spanish)


Lovecraft created a fully realized setting with such a provocative history that many later writers have been inspired to set stories there.


"The Shadow over Innsmouth" (Catalan)

"Shadows over Innsmouth" (German)

"The Shadow over Innsmouth" (Danish)

"Beyond the World" (Arabic)


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