Art, literature & culture

Birth of H. P. Lovecraft

20 August 1890

H. P. Lovecraft was born on 20 August 1890 in Providence. An American writer, Lovecraft is best known for his weird fiction, a blend of horror and science fiction in which humanity faces vast, indifferent cosmic forces. His stories, including The Call of Cthulhu, At the Mountains of Madness and The Shadow over Innsmouth, created the so-called Cthulhu Mythos, which inspired later writers and games. He lived mostly in Providence, Rhode Island, and published in pulp magazines such as Weird Tales, earning little during his lifetime. His fiction and letters contain strongly racist views, which have prompted debate. He died of cancer, and his fame grew after his death.

Open on the timeline

Before and after

More in Art, literature & culture

The era

This moment belongs to the Industrial era (1760 CE to 1914 CE), steam, factories and revolutions. You can also browse everything in the 19th century.