The leading critic of supernatural literature here
examines the roots of the "weird tale" (as Lovecraft
called it) through detailed examinations of five
"founding fathers" of the genre: Arthur Machen,
Lord Dunsany, Algernon Blackwood, M.R. James, and H.P. Lovecraft. The result is a thorough study of the art, craft, philosophy, and aesthetics of an
enduring genre of fantastic literature.