Memory by H.P. Lovecraft (1924)
The narrative revolves around a man who returns to his hometown after being away for several years. He becomes increasingly obsessed with uncovering the truth about a mysterious woman he encounters and her connection to an ancient tome that contains forbidden knowledge. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers dark secrets about his family's past and the town's history, leading him down a path of madness and destruction.
By H.P. Lovecraft · First published 1924 · Genre: Weird Fiction, Fantasy, Horror · 398 words
First lines
In the valley of Nis the accursed waning moon shines thinly, tearing a path for its light with feeble horns through the lethal foliage of a great upas-tree. And within the depths of the valley, where the light reaches not, move forms not meet to be beheld. Rank is the herbage on each slope, where evil vines and creeping plants crawl amidst the stones of ruined palaces, twining tightly about broken columns and strange monoliths, and heaving up marble pavements laid by forgotten hands. And in trees that grow gigantic in crumbling courtyards leap little apes, while in and out of deep treasure-vaults writhe poison serpents and scaly things without a name.
What this Textopian page supports
Memory is listed on Textopian as a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, dated 1924 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: 1924 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Weird Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Philosophical Fiction, Gothic Fiction
- Length: 398 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Memory 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
Similar titles
- The Festival by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Evil Clergyman by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Haunted Mind by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- The Strange High House In The Mist by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Shadow by Hans Christian Andersen
- A Cold Greeting by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Weird Fiction — The narrative features bizarre and surreal elements, typical of the genre, exploring themes of memory and the unknown.
- Fantasy — The presence of fantastical creatures and a mythical setting aligns with the conventions of fantasy literature.
- Horror — The unsettling atmosphere and themes of decay and the unknown evoke a sense of horror.
- Philosophical Fiction — The exploration of memory and existence raises philosophical questions about identity and the passage of time.
Tags
Horror · Supernatural · Psychological Thriller · Philosophical · Existential · Cerebral · Mind-Bending · Unreliable Narrator · Sanity-Blurring · Cosmic Horror · Atmospheric · Ominous