Tony's Review of The History of the Necronomicon

This is not a short story in the traditional sense, but more of a fictional history or meta-text that Lovecraft wrote to give depth and mystery to his larger mythos. The History of the Necronomicon is only a few pages long, but it is one of those pieces that takes on a life far beyond its word count. Here, Lovecraft lays out the supposed origins of the dreaded tome, penned by the “mad Arab” Abdul Alhazred in Damascus around 730 A.D. He charts the translations, the bans by church authorities, and the rare, scattered copies hidden away in universities or private hands.

What makes this work so fascinating is how seriously it is written. Lovecraft does not treat it as fantasy, but as a dry academic entry, much like something you would find in a catalog of forbidden books. That approach is what gives it weight. Readers are left wondering, “is it possible this thing is real?” It shows Lovecraft’s skill not only in creating monsters and cosmic horrors, but in building an entire mythology with its own texts, scholars, and whispered histories.

Of course, there is no “real” Necronomicon, despite many hoaxes and later attempts to publish fake editions. Lovecraft himself was clear that he invented the book. Still, The History of the Necronomicon has been so effective that people continue to believe it might exist. That is perhaps the greatest success of this short work — convincing generations of readers that something imaginary is lurking just beyond reach.

Unlike later movies that name-drop the Necronomicon, especially in pulp horror or campy adaptations like The Evil Dead series, Lovecraft’s original concept was not about a book that immediately causes monsters to appear. Instead, it was about knowledge that should never be known, history that corrodes the mind just by being read. That difference is important, as it keeps with his theme of cosmic dread rather than cheap scares.

In the end, The History of the Necronomicon is essential reading for anyone interested in the Cthulhu Mythos. It may be short, but it is one of those keystone pieces that makes the rest of Lovecraft’s universe feel larger, more ancient, and more dangerous.