The Evil Clergyman by H.P. Lovecraft
A clergyman returns to his hometown after a long absence and becomes embroiled in a mystery involving a series of gruesome murders and supernatural occurrences. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the clergyman's past is shrouded in darkness and that he may be connected to the evil forces at work in the town.
By H.P. Lovecraft · First published 1922 · Genre: Horror, Weird Fiction, Gothic Fiction · 1,886 words
First lines
I was shewn into the attic chamber by a grave, intelligent-looking man with quiet clothes and an iron-grey beard, who spoke to me in this fashion:
"Yes, he lived here-but I don't advise your doing anything. Your curiosity makes you irresponsible. We never come here at night, and it's only because of his will that we keep it this way. You know what he did. That abominable society took charge at last, and we don't know where he is buried. There was no way the law or anything else could reach the society.
What this Textopian page supports
The Evil Clergyman is listed on Textopian as a short story by H.P. Lovecraft, dated 1922 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: 1922 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Weird Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Fantasy, Psychological Thriller
- Length: 1,886 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Evil Clergyman 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
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Evil Clergyman?
- 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?
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Genres
- Horror — The narrative explores themes of fear, the supernatural, and existential dread, characteristic of horror literature.
- Weird Fiction — The story incorporates elements of the bizarre and the uncanny, typical of weird fiction, blurring the lines between reality and the supernatural.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting and atmosphere evoke a sense of decay and the macabre, aligning with gothic conventions.
- Fantasy — The presence of magical elements and otherworldly phenomena introduces a fantastical aspect to the narrative.
Tags
Horror · Supernatural Fiction · Gothic Fiction · Dark Fantasy · Clergyman · Evil · Sinister · Mysterious · Occult · Religious · Paranormal · Psychological Horror