Trivia

Universally considered to be the father of modern horror and Sci-Fi (after his short-story "In the Walls of Eryx", co-written with Kenneth J. Sterling and published on January 1936).

His father's insanity was most likely caused by syphilis.

Was known to remain awake for prolonged periods of time, often 36 hours straight, without showing the slightest signs of fatigue or irritability. In one case, in order to meet a deadline, he had to stay awake for 60 hours straight in order to complete a story.

Wrote the short story "Imprisoned With The Pharaohs" as a ghostwriter for Harry Houdini. But on the day he brought it in person, he left the original copy at the train station, but fortunately had a copy saved at home. So somewhere in Providence there was a story titled "Under the Pyramids" by Lovecraft floating around.

Suffered two nervous breakdowns before he was fifteen.

Never actually finished high school, a fact which bothered him clear up to his death.

Despite being seven years his senior, Lovecraft's wife Sonia Green outlived him by well over thirty years, and told an interviewer in 1969 that her husband had never actually initiated sexual congress between them.

One of his other inventions, the fictitious Miskatonic University, appears prominently in his tales, and its library is often where the evil Necronomicon can be found.

It has been said by one biographer that he was literally "cold-blooded" due to a very rare, and still little-understood affliction called poikilothermism, making him feel cold to the touch. However, this is probably untrue, and basically disproved by biographer T. S. Joshi, seeing as poikilothermism is not a disease, but a characteristic of certain non-mammals such as reptiles, and is only commonly seen in mammals as a symptom of rabies, which it is highly unlikely Lovecraft suffered from. The belief that he was poikilothermic is a common misconception, however.

For many years, the statuette for the World Fantasy Award was a bust of Lovecraft, and was informally referred to as a Howard.

He is often considered to be the father of cosmic horror.

Inspired modern-day stories of success such as Robert Bloch ("Psycho"), Stephen King ("The Shining"), Ridley Scott ("Alien"), John McTiernan ("Predator"), Clive Barker ("Hellraiser"), Anne Rice ("Interview with the Vampire") and John Carpenter (the so-called Apocalypse Trilogy: "The Thing", "Prince of Darkness" and "In the Mouth of Madness").

Is notorious as being the 20th Century's most prolific letter writer scripting somewhere between 40,000 to 100,000 letters within his lifetime.

His fictitious book, the Necronomicon (allegedly written by "The Mad Arab" in the eighth century and containing horrendous spells, evil workings and Dark Things Best Left Alone), is referred to in many of his stories. In a bizarre literary reversal, several people have written and published imaginative full-length editions, giving this mythical work a macabre, eldritch life of its own. Another grimoires or books about black magic that gained fame with Necronomicon after the horror saga Mythos of Cthulhu were Pnakotic Manuscripts (another Lovecraft's creation), Celaeno Fragments (creation of August Derleth), Unaussprechlichen Kulten/Nameless Cults (creation of Robert E. Howard), Liber Ivonis/Book of Eibon (creation of Clark Ashton Smith), De Vermis Mysteriis and Cultes des Goules (both creations of Robert Bloch).

Responsible for creating the nucleus of the "Cthulhu Mythos," a cycle of loosely-related stories that he (and other writers including Robert Bloch, August Derleth, Robert Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, and Brian Lumley) conceived that concerned the "Great Old Ones," beings from outer space who took up residence on Earth to cause havoc. Ironically, although Lovecraft was an atheist (having renounced his family's Baptist faith at an early age), the mythos' stories have spawned a sort of pseudo-religion among the very hard-core readers of his stories, including the Temple of Set and the Esoteric Order of Dagon.

He very rarely went out in the daytime and preferred not to open the curtains in his house in daylight hours. He wrote all his stories out in long-hand and often refused to have them typed (even as late as the 1930s), which led to many being rejected out of hand by possible publishers. He published little in his lifetime and died in poverty. He began referring to himself as "middle-aged" before he was 25, and, in a way, this proved correct as he died at age 46.

Because he was a sensitive child, his mother and grandfather indulged him, so Lovecraft very early gained a fondness for sweets that remained with him all his life.

He openly hated New York City and spoke at length about his dislike for it but stayed there often and spent so much time exploring neighborhoods with friends that he had trouble getting work done.

Despite being one of the most famous and influential authors of all time; there has never been a direct adaptation of any of his stories.

Was raised by his grandfather and mother, and to a certain extent by his aunts, after his father's hospitalization.

His mother had hoped for a daughter and dressed him as a girl for much of the first decade of his life.

His stories are often deemed rather challenging to adapt for any particular medium.

To this day, there isn't a single recording of H.P. Lovecraft's voice. However, close associates remarked that the author had a rather high voice.

Buried in Swan Point Cemetery.

There is an area of Pluto named Cthulu Regio.

Lovecraft had a particular fondness for ice cream and had, in general, a notable sweet tooth. He loved coffee too, especially when highly sugared. Baked beans, spaghetti, cheese and roast turkey were also favorites.

One of the most adapted horror writers in both movies and short films. Ironically, the productions loosely inspired in his stories are more successful than the faithfully based on them.

During his life, Lovecraft achieved little to no recognition for his writing. Only following his death, did his work gain in popularity.

Played a harmonica-like instrument called a zobo.

He always wrote the drafts of his stories by hand, because he hated typing. Whenever he could, he would have someone else type his manuscripts for him.

The Vision Bleak, a German horror metal band, dedicated the album "Carpathia, A Dramatic Poem" (2005) to Lovecraft. They also made other references, such as a track being called "Kutulu!". Numerous other rock bands have paid musical tribute to HPL and the Mythos, most notably Metallica in "The Thing That Should Not Be" and the 1960s American band H.P. Lovecraft.

Between his multiple fears he had thalassophobia (fear to the sea). This fear was extensive to seafood and the smell of fish.

Was close friends with writer Frank Belknap Long.

He was a known xenophobe, racist and anti-Semite. Even after marrying Sonia Greene who was Jewish, he was still fond of making anti-Semitic remarks much to her chagrin.

Had an active correspondence with writer Robert E. Howard, creator of the legendary warrior Conan the Barbarian and all the Hyborian realm (where Conan set).

Name of Elliot Knight's character Ward Phillips in Color Out of Space (2019) is a play on words of Lovecraft's full name, Howard Phillips. Color Out of Space (2019) is based on the eponymous Lovecraft's short story.

Before embarking upon a career as a writer of fiction, Lovecraft was a journalist for a short period of time. Among his published articles, were those that clearly demonstrated his xenophobia.

Initially, it was H.P. Lovecraft's grandfather who introduced him to horror/fantasy stories. As a child, Lovecraft would remain awake at night by reading various books from his grandfather's library.

Following the rejection by "Weird Tales" of Lovecraft's story "At the Mountains of Madness," the writer reduced his own creative input considerably.

The loss of his father whilst only a child, would have an adverse effect on his relationship with his mother.

Was diagnosed with terminal cancer about 12 months before he passed away.

Was a great admirer of Bram Stoker's novel, "Dracula".

The beginning of Lovecraft's prolific period as a writer, began in 1919.

Upon leaving school, Lovecraft became something of a recluse for a number of years. This was apparently due to his experiencing a deep depression.

Was known for being his own harshest critic, with regards to his writing.

Claimed that the place of Providence was the only place where he enjoyed residing.

As a child, Lovecraft cited Edgar Allan Poe as a major influence in his development as a writer.

Lovecraft's mother passed away at the institution where his father had also died. Lovecraft was devastated by her passing, leaving him with a meager estate.

As a young child, Lovecraft was encouraged by his maternal grandfather to read classical literature and English poetry.

His wife, Sonia Haft Shifirkin Greene, was seven years his senior.