| Author |
Lovecraft, H. P. (Howard Phillips), 1890-1937 |
| Illustrator |
Finlay, Virgil, 1914-1971 |
| Title |
The thing on the door-step
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| Alternate Title |
The thing on the doorstep
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| Original Publication |
Indianapolis, IN: Popular Fiction Publishing Company, 1937.
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| Note |
Wikipedia page on this work: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thing_on_the_Doorstep
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 67.9 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
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| Credits |
Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
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| Summary |
"The Thing on the Door-Step" by H. P. Lovecraft is a short story that exemplifies the genre of weird fiction, written during the early 20th century. It delves into themes of identity, cosmic horror, and the supernatural, with a narrative that intertwines elements of madness and occultism. The story presents a chilling exploration of the lengths to which individuals might go to achieve power and immortality, ultimately serving as a dire warning against the dark allure of forbidden knowledge. The plot centers around Edward Derby and his tumultuous relationship with his wife, Asenath Waite, who is involved in dark, supernatural practices. Edward, once a timid and childlike man, undergoes a disturbing transformation after marrying Asenath, who is linked to his family's sinister legacy. As the story escalates, Edward reveals the horrifying truth that Asenath, potentially channeling the essence of her father, the ancient sorcerer Ephraim Waite, is intent on possessing him completely. The tension builds until Edward finds himself ensnared in a battle for his very soul against his wife’s monstrous aspirations. The tale concludes with a sense of inevitable doom, leaving readers haunted by the implications of identity and the consequences of dabbling in the unknown. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
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| Subject |
Horror tales
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| Subject |
Paranormal fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
73230 |
| Release Date |
Mar 22, 2024 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
320 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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