He by H.P. Lovecraft (1925)
The story revolves around a man who returns to his hometown after being away for several years. He becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth about an old family friend who has died under mysterious circumstances. As he digs deeper, he discovers that the town is home to a dark and malevolent presence that has been awakened by human meddling.
By H.P. Lovecraft · First published 1925 · Genre: Horror, Weird Fiction, Gothic · 4,759 words
First lines
I saw him on a sleepless night when I was walking desperately to save my soul and my vision. My coming to New York had been a mistake; for whereas I had looked for poignant wonder and inspiration in the teeming labyrinths of ancient streets that twist endlessly from forgotten courts and squares and waterfronts to courts and squares and waterfronts equally forgotten, and in the Cyclopean modern towers and pinnacles that rise blackly Babylonian under waning moons, I had found instead only a sense of horror and oppression which threatened to master, paralyze, and annihilate me.
What this Textopian page supports
He is listed on Textopian as a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, dated 1925 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: H.P. Lovecraft
- Date: 1925 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Weird Fiction, Gothic, Fantasy, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 4,759 words
- Structure: 1 section, 44 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for He by H.P. Lovecraft
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering He?
- How does this short story by H.P. Lovecraft fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Horror — The narrative is filled with elements of fear, dread, and the supernatural, creating a sense of horror throughout.
- Weird Fiction — The story features bizarre and otherworldly elements, typical of weird fiction, including strange creatures and unsettling atmospheres.
- Gothic — The setting and mood are reminiscent of Gothic literature, with decaying buildings, mysterious characters, and a sense of the uncanny.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes fantastical elements such as time manipulation and otherworldly visions.
Tags
Horror · Supernatural Fiction · Psychological Thriller · Gothic Fiction · Atmospheric Horror · Cosmic Horror · Existentialism · Philosophical Themes · Mental Illness · Sanity-Blurring Terror · Isolation · Solitude