Howard Philips Lovecraft was born in 1890 in Providence, Rhode Island, where he spent nearly his whole life.  A precocious child, he became a published author at sixteen, contributing a monthly newspaper column on astronomy. In 1923, the publication of his short story "Dagon" marked the beginning of his career as a regular contributor of fantasy and supernatural stories to such popular pulp magazines as Weird Tales, Amazing Stories, Astounding Stories, and Tales of Magic and Mystery.

He was early interested in astronomy and the amateur press, where he published voluminously. He eked out a spare existence as a revisionist for lesser writers. 
In 1924, Lovecraft married Mrs. Sonia Greene, another writer, and lived with her briefly in Brooklyn, New York. Following their divorce, he returned to Providence, where he lived quietly until his death from cancer in 1937.

His first book was the privately printed SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH (Visionary Publishing Company, 1936), but it was not until 1939, two years after his death, that comprehensive publication of his work began with THE OUTSIDER AND OTHERS, a collection put together by two of his author friends, August Derleth and Donald Wandrei, launching the Arkham House imprint.

Lovecraft has become renowned as a master of the macabre in America, in the company of such writers as Poe, Hawthorne, Bierce, Chambers, Mary E. Wilkins-Freeman, Hearn and Edith Wharton.  He has influenced countless other writers, among them: Robert Bloch, August Derleth, Robert E. Howard, Henry Kuttner, Frank Belknap Long, Clark Ashton Smith and Donald Wandrei.