Updated 09/09/2014
H.P. Lovecraft’s longform novel makes a fine introduction to the author’s original mythos and recurring themes but, like Poe before him, the style and structure of his weird tales has not aged well and demands patience from modern readers.
The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward reads much like a dry historical legal document and Lovecraft’s obsession with architecture is interesting but not thrilling. The lazy dénouement owes much to Dracula – and vampire fans might catch the name “Ferenczy”: a major player in Brian Lumley’s superb Necroscope series.
Lovecraft’s short fiction is far more satisfying but completists and occultists will love this nonetheless.
View a trailer for The Resurrected (adapted from The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward)…
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- H.P. Lovecraft’s The Tomb (For Beginning Readers) (neatorama.com)
- H. P. Lovecraft’s The Case of Charles Dexter Ward in a Free Unabridged Reading and Performance by SAG-AFTRA Actor William E. Hart (cthulhuwho1.com)
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[…] The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward By H. P. Lovecraft (lilywight.com) […]
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[…] The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward By H. P. Lovecraft (lilywight.com) […]
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Thanks for the link x
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Dear Lily Wight,
Since you already have a link here to my recent reading/performance of The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, I must Thank You, and say that I hope you will someday listen to it.
And I have to admit that the tale, which I first read close to forty years ago, originally felt slow and very old-fashioned (as you say, in a Dracula-style); and yet, when I began reading the story aloud as a documentary, with voices for each character, the tale came alive in a way that surprised me.
Even my wife, whom is not much of a Lovecraft fan, got hooked on the story, and said that the voices brought the tale to life for her; and kept her hooked until the final moments.
So I now ask readers to give the story a second chance if they originally weren’t hooked into it by the archaic text on the page; because I truly believe the flowing audio will be a pleasant surprise.
And for those that have never read the tale before, I suggest doing a read-along with the text I’ve provided on my blog, during the letter segments, so the difference between the archaic writing, and the actual spoken word will really stand out; because the archaic text is usually what slows the story down for most new readers.
I look forward pro or con to any thoughts on this performance!
Will Hart
aka CthulhuWho1
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Hi Will,
Thanks for your comment. You are absolutely right, books really do come to life when read aloud and there are few things more engrossing than having somebody read you a story, it’s probably our oldest, greatest art form.
I hope the link sends a few people your way xx
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Excellent, insightful review.
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