The History of the Necronomicon
The text describes an ancient tome said to contain forbidden knowledge of the Old Ones and their rituals for summoning them. It's a grimoire that holds secrets of the universe and the laws of reality, but also poses a terrible threat to humanity if misused. The book is said to be written in a language that's not of this world and can only be deciphered by those who have been initiated into its mysteries.
By H.P. Lovecraft · First published 1924 · Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Gothic · 777 words
First lines
Composed by Abdul Alhazred, a mad poet of Sanaá, in Yemen, who is said to have flourished during the period of the Ommiade caliphs, circa 700 A. D. He visited the ruins of Babylon and the subterranean secrets of Memphis and spent ten years alone in the great southern desert of Arabia-the Roba el Khaliyeh or "Empty Space" of the ancients-and "Dahna" or "Crimson" desert of the modern Arabs, which is held to be inhabited by protective evil spirits and monsters of death. Of this desert many strange and unbelievable marvels are told by those who pretend to have penetrated it. In his last years Alhazred dwelt in Damascus, where the Necronomicon (Al Azif) was written, and of his final death or disappearance (738 A. D.) many terrible and conflicting things are told. He is said by Ebn Khallikan (12th cent. biographer) to have been seized by an invisible monster in broad daylight and devoured horribly before a large number of fright-frozen witnesses. Of his madness many things are told. He claimed to have seen fabulous Irem, or City of Pillars, and to have found beneath the ruins of a certain nameless desert town the shocking annals and secrets of a race older than mankind. He was only an indifferent Moslem, worshipping unknown entities whom he called Yog-Sothoth and Cthulhu.
What this Textopian page supports
The History of the Necronomicon 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: Horror, Fantasy, Gothic, Occult, Historical Fiction
- Length: 777 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The History of the Necronomicon 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 The History of the Necronomicon?
- 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
- Medusas Coil by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Descendant by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Tomb by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Temple by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Haunter Of The Dark by H. P. Lovecraft
- Polaris by H. P. Lovecraft
Genres
- Horror — The work explores themes of madness, forbidden knowledge, and cosmic terror, central to the horror genre.
- Fantasy — It incorporates elements of ancient myths, supernatural beings, and otherworldly realms.
- Gothic — The atmosphere of dread, decay, and the supernatural aligns with Gothic literature conventions.
- Occult — The narrative revolves around esoteric knowledge and dark rituals associated with the occult.
Tags
Fantasy · Horror · Supernatural Fiction · Occultism · Mythology · Ancient Civilizations · Cthulhu Mythos · Lovecraftian Horror · Dark Fantasy · Gothic Fiction · Mystery · Adventure