The Crooked and Narrow Streets of the Town of Boston 1630-1822.

by LOVECRAFT, H. P. (his copy) - THWING, Annie Haven.

$5,174 · Offered by Biblio

First edition

Boston: Marshall Jones,, 1920. From the facts to the fantastic First edition, Lovecraft's copy, inscribed on the front free endpaper, "H. P. Lovecraft, Gent. His book. 1924". Lovecraft was well-studied in the history and lore of New England and used this knowledge to imbue his writings with an antiquarian flavour. He took care with the details of geography and setting in his tales, using reference works such as this to ensure accuracy. In this copy, Lovecraft has loosely inserted four newspaper clippings from the Boston Post and the Boston Globe, relating to historical buildings in the city. An active preservationist, he wrote frequently to local newspapers expressing outrage over threats to historic buildings. He advocated for a city-funded rehabilitation programme for historic structures, as well as zoning laws that would protect neighbourhoods and keep new construction compatible with the city's fabric. His personal correspondence "frequently laments the destruction of historic architecture; for example, in 1927 he was 'mortified' to discover that the 17th-century neighbourhood of Boston's North End had been largely demolished" (Evans, p. 111). Lovecraft's first novelette, The Shunned House, written in October 1924, was inspired by two 18th-century houses, one in Providence and another in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Boston itself features frequently in his tales, notably in Pickman's Model, a short story written in September 1926 and published in Weird Tales in October 1927. Oc

• Year: 1920
• Edition: First Edition
• Binding: hardcover

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