12 Pages Posted: 6 May 2016

Date Written: 2012

Abstract

An ancient magical book with dangerous import. A cursed tome. A horrific binding. These are the elements that horror writer H. L. Lovecraft (and later Clark Ashton Smith) brought together in their depiction of the “Necronomicon of the mad Arab Abdul Alhazred,” a crucial bibliographic touchstone in the “Cthulhu mythos” that Lovecraft created and his followers expanded on. However, this legendary book of fiction was rooted in very tangible books that Lovecraft could have well examined in the rare book libraries of his native New England. This short essay explores the literature surrounding real books of magic, genuine book curses, and books bound in the skin of humans found in real libraries. It will start with a brief review of Owen Davies masterful treatise on grimoires. This will be followed by an examination of some scholarly articles by Nazi-hunter, classical scholar, and librarian Lawrence S. Thompson on book curses, chained-books, and books bound in the tanned flesh of human beings.