+ BOOKS +

H.P. Lovecraft often referred to various books and other texts in his works, many of which are real and others of which he created. This section of the Lexicon is devoted to these publications and to identifying which are factual and which are fictitious.

Book of Invaders: A book of this name is referred to in the short story
and would seem to be a reference to Lebor Gabála Érenn, "The Book of the Taking of Ireland," often translated into English as The Book of Invasions or The Book of Conquests. Compiled and edited by an anonymous scholar in the 11th century, this significant record of the folkloric history of Ireland is a loose collection of poems and prose narratives recounting the mythical origins and history of the Irish from the creation of the world down to the Middle Ages and is a mélange of mythology, legend, history, folklore, and Christian historiography.

Golden Bough:

Necronomicon:

The Witch-Cult in Western Europe: An actual book by anthopologist Margaret Alice Murray that was published in 1921 and postulates the existence of widespread, organized, pre-Christian pagan worship in Europe up into modern times. It is based to a great extent on the transcripts of witch trials from the preceding centuries and has been disputed and to a great extent refuted in the decades since its publication. "Of the ancient religion of pre-Christian Britain there are few written records, but it is contrary to all experience that a cult should die out and leave no trace immediately on the introduction of a new religion," writes at the beginning of the first chapter of this book. Lovecraft refers to The Witch-Cult in Western Europe in a number of his works, including the short story "The Horror at Red Hook." Click here to read the full electronic text of this book.