American Writers (One Hundred Pages at a Time)

One of my favorite Lovecraft stories, "The Picture in the House" is about the sea, the horrors of Atlantic history, and the legacy of ancient beliefs and traditions.

Part three of my review of MONTCALM AND WOLFE by Francis Parkman. In this section we witness campaigning in the frontier and the Hudson Valley, the rise of Montcalm, and the beginning of a global war.

A story based on one of Lovecraft's dreams, "Nyarlathotep" provides some interesting ideas on modernity, the threat of ancient traditions, and race while also introducing us to one of his more memorable gods.

Two years before the Seven Years War broke out in Europe, Americans were once against fighting each other in the frontier regions between the British colonies and New France. These early losses for Britain are explored in this part of MONTCALM AND WOLFE by Francis Parkman.

"Ex Oblivione" by H. P. Lovecraft is a dreamer story about someone trying to escape this world into the realm of dreams, even beyond that to non-existence.

FFS, another French and Indian war. Well, in any case we are getting another one as we jump into Francis Parkman's final volume in his massive history of French North America, MONTCALM AND WOLFE. This section covers the roots of the final French and Indian war.

This episode is my review of "From Beyond" by H. P. Lovecraft, a story about a scientist trying to find what lies beyond our senses. Made into a good movie.

In the final parts of Francis Parkman's A HALF-CENTURY OF CONFLICT we explore the failed peace ending King George's War, ongoing struggles for Acadia, and the siege of Louisbourgh. One more book left, MONTCALM AND WOLFE.

Part three of my review of A HALF CENTURY OF CONFLICT by Francis Parkman. This episode deals with the build up and origins of King George's War. Who can keep track of all of these French and Indian wars with massive loss of life and few territorial changes? It is as if dying for empire is pointless. 

In "Celephais" we have another of Lovecracft's "Dreamlands" stories. This one is about a man who is so isolated in the modern world he seeks fame and adventure in his dreams. Perhaps something about Lovecraft's psychology could be said.