Great essay. I've often seen condescending patronizing critical essays trying to establish that H. P. Lovecraft was a juvenile hack at writing. This essay estab

Great essay. I've often seen condescending patronizing critical essays trying to establish that H. P. Lovecraft was a juvenile hack at writing. This essay establishes that he is capable of sardonic evaluation, probably even self-criticism. Moreover, this essay is written in a modern language, which shows that the (to some, grating) archaic tone of his stories is a conscious choice. It was due to this essay that I came to hear about Arthur Machen, and Algernon Blackwood. As for Lovecraft's fiction, it seems to me that he passed away as he was maturing as a writer. Had he (or Edgar Allan Poe) lived longer, wonder what great works they might have been able to bring into this world!