Weird Tales May 1941 Issue

6b H. P. Lovecraft, Seabury Quinn, Robert Bloch, August Derleth and others. Indianapolis: Popular Fiction Pucblishing Company, May 1941. 

Notes

Weird Tales was first published in 1923 and quickly became one of the most influential pulp magazines dedicated to fantasy, horror, and the supernatural. Founded by J. C. Henneberger and J. M. Lansinger, and later shaped by the long editorial tenure of Farnsworth Wright, the magazine provided a platform for many of the most important writers in the genre, including H. P. Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, and Clark Ashton Smith. Known for its imaginative stories and striking cover art, Weird Tales helped define early twentieth-century weird fiction, blending elements of horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy. Its impact on the genre was profound, establishing a legacy that continues to influence speculative fiction today.

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, written in 1927 by H. P. Lovecraft and first published in this issue of Weird Tales (May 1941), is one of his most substantial works of weird fiction. The novella follows the mysterious decline of Charles Dexter Ward, a young antiquarian in Providence, Rhode Island, whose obsession with his ancestor Joseph Curwen leads him into dangerous experiments with forbidden knowledge. As Ward’s behavior grows increasingly strange, the story unfolds through letters, documents, and investigation, revealing themes of identity, inherited evil, and the perilous pursuit of occult power. Blending historical detail with supernatural horror, the work stands out for its narrative structure and its deepening of Lovecraft’s characteristic atmosphere of dread.

H. P. Lovecraft (1890–1937) was an American writer whose works have become central to the development of modern horror and weird fiction. Writing primarily for pulp magazines such as Weird Tales, Lovecraft created a distinct literary universe often referred to as the Cthulhu Mythos, characterized by cosmic horror and the insignificance of humanity in the face of ancient, unknowable forces. Though much of his work gained recognition only after his death, stories like The Case of Charles Dexter Ward have since become some of his most studied and influential writings, admired for their intricate blending of history, science, and the supernatural.

Description

Paper magazine fully intact but still fragile. Shipping to edges and head and foot of spine. Very good condition.