In the Mountains of Madness: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of H. P. Lovecraft

Interweaving the biography of the legendary writer with an exploration of Lovecraft as a phenomenon, In the Mountains of Madness strives to explain this reclusive, cultish figure while challenging some of the general views held by Lovecraft devotees. Focusing specifically on the large cross-section of horror & science fiction fans who know Lovecraft through films, role-playing games, & video games directly influenced by his work, but who know little or nothing about the man himself, Madness places Lovecraft & his work in a cultural context, as an artist more in tune with our time than his own.  

More than a traditional bio, this provocative book reclaims the true essence of Lovecraft in relation to the comics of Joe Lansdale, the novels of Stephen King, & some of the biggest blockbuster films in contemporary America, proving the undying influence of this rare & significant figure.  

W. SCOTT POOLE, teaches at the College of Charleston & has written widely about American history, horror, & pop culture, including most recently his award-winning history, Monsters in America, which received the John G. Cawelti prize from the Popular Culture Association & was named among the “Best of the Best” by the AAUP for 2011. Monsters received nominations for the Bram Stoker & the fan-sourced Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards. Poole is a regular contributor to PopMatters & wrote for the Huffington Post, Religion Dispatches, & Killing the Buddha. He has been a guest speaker at Authors@Google & has collaborated on films: History Channel, PBS, & the Banger Films project, Satan: The Movie.