The Hound by H.P. Lovecraft (1924)
The story revolves around a man who returns to his ancestral home after being away for many years. He discovers that the family's history and traditions are shrouded in mystery and superstition. The protagonist becomes increasingly obsessed with uncovering the truth about his family's past, which leads him down a dark path of discovery. As he delves deeper into the mysteries of his family's history, he uncovers evidence of ancient rituals and forbidden knowledge that have been hidden for generations. He becomes convinced that his family is cursed and that their ancestors made a pact with malevolent forces to gain power and wealth. The protagonist's obsession with uncovering the truth ultimately leads him down a path of madness and destruction. He becomes increasingly isolated from society, and his grip on reality begins to slip. In the end, he is consumed by the very darkness he sought to uncover, and his family's secrets are lost forever.
By H.P. Lovecraft · First published 1924 · Genre: Horror, Gothic Fiction, Weird Fiction · 2 chapters · 3,290 words
First lines
In my tortured ears there sounds unceasingly a nightmare whirring and flapping, and a faint, distant baying as of some gigantic hound. It is not dream-it is not, I fear, even madness-for too much has already happened to give me these merciful doubts. St. John is a mangled corpse; I alone know why, and such is my knowledge that I am about to blow out my brains for fear I shall be mangled in the same way. Down unlit and illimitable corridors of eldritch phantasy sweeps the black, shapeless Nemesis that drives me to self-annihilation.
What this Textopian page supports
The Hound 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, Gothic Fiction, Weird Fiction, Dark Fantasy, Psychological Thriller
- Length: 3,290 words
- Structure: 2 chapters, 22 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Hound 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 Hound?
- 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
- The Outsider by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Tomb by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Rats In The Walls by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Other Gods by H. P. Lovecraft
- The Picture In The House by H. P. Lovecraft
Genres
- Horror — The narrative is steeped in themes of terror, the supernatural, and the grotesque, creating an atmosphere of dread and fear.
- Gothic Fiction — The setting features dark, decaying environments, elements of the macabre, and a focus on death and decay, typical of Gothic literature.
- Weird Fiction — The story incorporates bizarre and otherworldly elements, blurring the lines between reality and the supernatural.
- Dark Fantasy — The presence of fantastical elements intertwined with horror themes creates a darkly imaginative narrative.
Tags
Horror · Supernatural Fiction · Gothic Fiction · Cthulhu Mythos · Mythology · Occultism · Mystery · Thriller · Dark Fantasy · Atmospheric Horror · Psychological Horror · Cosmic Horror