The Shadow over Innsmouth

“Where does madness leave off and reality begin?”

Written in late 1931, The Shadow over Innsmouth is a typically Lovecraftian blend of creeping dread and cosmic horror that emphasises the danger inherent in the pursuit of forbidden knowledge.

It tells the story of a young historian who, while investigating the genealogy of his family in New England, is intrigued to learn about the mysterious and decrepit fishing-town of Innsmouth, a place with a reputation for strangeness and a notoriously unusual-looking population. When he investigates the town’s strange customs and unsettling inhabitants, he uncovers a horrifying truth about ancient pacts, deep-sea horrors, and personal revelations that challenge his own sanity.

The Shadow over Innsmouth forms part of the “Cthulhu Mythos”, referencing several motifs, shared place names and mythical creatures that have appreared in other stories set in that universe.

Though virtually unknown and financially unsuccessful during his lifetime, H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) is now regarded as one of the most influential 20th-century writers of supernatural horror fiction. Widely credited with inventing the “cosmic horror” genre—fiction that explores humanity’s insignificance in the face of vast, unknowable cosmic forces—he also created the “Cthulhu Mythos”, a shared universe of ancient alien beings and forbidden knowledge that has influenced generations of horror and science fiction writers.