Written by H.P. Lovecraft in 1927 and published posthumously in 1938 by Rebel Press, the Necronomicon is a foundational text within the mythos of the Old Ones. This short but significant piece delves into the origins of the Necronomicon, the infamous grimoire that features prominently in Lovecraft’s stories. Through his characteristic use of “pseudo-authenticity,” Lovecraft blurs the line between fiction and reality giving readers the sense that the Necronomicon is not just an element of his cosmic horror tales but a real and terrifying object with a documented history.
The History of the Necronomicon was shared with fellow Weird Tales writer Clark Ashton Smith in correspondence where Lovecraft alluded to the legendary & cursed nature of the book. He described how one reader fled into the hills driven mad by the knowledge contained within its pages.
Despite its importance, The History of the Necronomicon is rarely included in collections of Lovecraft’s works. The original print run in 1938 was limited to just 80 copies and very few exist today. Even Brown University, which holds an extensive collection of Lovecraft’s personal papers and artefacts does not possess a copy. However, reprints by Necronomicon Press in the 1970s made the text available to a wider audience though it remains one of Lovecraft’s more obscure works.
Below is a reading of “History of the Necronomicon” by HorrorBabble.
