033-0126 | |
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FROM Robert E. Howard | |
TO H. P. Lovecraft | |
October 1930 |
Abstract
Howard pleased that Farnsworth Wright accepted Lovecraft's "The Whisperer in Darkness" for Weird Tales; thanks for the copy of The Recluse with Lovecraft's essay "Supernatural Horror in Literature" (and sorry to hear of W. Paul Cook's ill health, and thanks for working to get a sketch from H. Warner Munn); appreciation for Lovecraft's comments on "Red Thunder," and on Howard's poetry in general; on San Antonio, TX (with aspersions on the immigrants) seguing into Texas racial history; more ponderings on the racial origins of various ancient civilizations and cultures (including Jews and Islam); on the revival of Howard's interest in the Orient with Oriental Stories, and his story "The Voice of El-Lil"; on their mutual interest in local history, particularly with respect to Rhode Island and Texas, seguing briefly to the West coast of Africa (and Howard's story "Red Shadows," slavery, and African-Americans), and back to local folk-lore (a "rock which bleeds in the light of the moon," an old woman looked on as a witch, and murder-ranches); a brief mention of Puritanism and psychology, and Howard wanting to read Lovecraft's "The Picture in the House"; on the witch-cult hypothesis; on the good and bad traits of the Celts, waxing romantic and leading to the poem "Rueben's Brethren"; on certain images, suggesting P. W. Joyce's The Story of Ancient Irish Civilization for reference, and opining that they may have some influence from phallic worship; on their shared hobby of genealogy, and Lovecraft's story of the "Luck of Eden Hall" (and Longfellow's poem on it); on wanting to see Stonehenge (with references to druids); agreement with Lovecraft on immigration and "the melting pot" (very racially-tinged, with asides on Native Americans, Picts, Celts, etc.) seguing into Howard's ancestry and connection to Texas; on the geography and history of Texas, seguing into discussion of gunfighters, including James Norfleet, Tom Hickman, Manuel Gonzaullas, Dock Holder, and Judge G.B. Gerald, with a brief aside on violence along the Mexican border; thanks for the articles on Providence, R.I. and Lovecraft's poem "The East India Brick Row," moving on to discuss the effect of environment on a man (including Howard's own brief tenure in Dark Valley); Weird Tales has accepted a Bran Mak Morn tale, "The Children of the Night," which will reference the Cthulhu Mythos and quote James Elroy Flecker's "Gates of Damascus." Postscript thanking Lovecraft for his bookplate.
Cited By
TBD
Included In
- A Means to Freedom (unabridged)
- Collected Letters of Robert E. Howard (unabridged)
- Robert E. Howard Selected Letters (abridged - missing postscript)
Preceded By 000-0428 | Letters of Robert E. Howard and H. P. Lovecraft | Followed by 033-0132 |
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Preceded By 000-0428 | A Means to Freedom | Followed By 033-0132 |
Preceded By 033-0125 | Collected Letters of Robert E. Howard | Followed By 033-0127 |
Preceded By 033-0125 | Robert E. Howard Selected Letters | Followed By 033-0129 |