Das Grauen im Museum und andere Erzählungen

Summary: These are stories that clearly bear his signature, his specific brand of horror, exemplifying refined literary terror.

Authors: Lovecraft, H. P.; Kirde, Kalju (ed.); Hermstein, Rudolf (trans. by the author): Howard Phillips Lovecraft was born on August 20, 1890, in Providence, Rhode Island, and died there on March 15, 1937. At the age of eight, he lost his father. He was primarily raised by his mother, grandfather, and two aunts, showing early literary talent. As a toddler, he memorized poems and began writing his own at the age of six. His grandfather encouraged this inclination and told him invented horror stories. In 1914, Lovecraft became a member of an association of American amateur writers aimed at promoting exchange among authors through conventions. This interaction with like-minded individuals revitalized Lovecraft: the short stories "The Tomb" and "Dagon" were created during this time. In 1924, Lovecraft married Sonia Greene, a Jewish Ukrainian seven years his senior. A few years later, the separated Sonia Greene and Lovecraft agreed on an amicable divorce, which, however, was never legally finalized. Lovecraft returned to Providence and lived there again with his aunts. This last phase of his life was the most productive. Nearly all of his well-known tales, such as "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" and "At the Mountains of Madness," originated during this period. In 1936, Lovecraft was diagnosed with colon cancer. Until his death a year later, he suffered from constant pain and malnutrition.

Rudolf Hermstein, born in 1940 in Juliusburg, Lower Silesia, has been working as a freelance translator from English since 1971. He lives in Bad Feilnbach, Upper Bavaria.