H. P. Lovecraft: Against the World, Against Life

by Michel Houellebecq

book data

208 ratings, 3.81 average rating, 23 reviews (more data...)

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5		26%
4		35%
3		32%
2		5%
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published

May 1st 2005 (first published 1991) by McSweeney's Books

binding

Paperback, 150 pages

isbn

1932416188 (isbn13: 9781932416183)

description

In this prescient work, Michel Houellebecq focuses his considerable analytical skills on H. P. Lovecraft, the seminal, enigmatic horror writer of the ...more

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 345)

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07/26/07

R. rated it:

bookshelves: 2005, to-be-reread

A must. A misanthrope essaying a misanthrope. Read by a misanthrope. All created by a misanthropic God? Am I missing anything? Nope.

Update: A great remix of the Mountain Goats' "Lovecraft in Brooklyn" : http://youtube.com/watch?v=PvkMEoqmbBA

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05/06/08

Josh rated it:

Read in May, 2008

Reading a book by one of your current favorite authors about your all-time favorite author is possibly one of the best literary experiences I can imagine.

In H.P. Lovecraft: Against the World, Against Life Michel Houellebecq, the bitterly cynical, oft-misunderstood French misanthrope and champion of 21st-century nihilism, attempts to demystify exactly what it is about Lovecraft's fiction that has allowed it to remain fresh and relevant after nearly a century.

And he succeed...more Reading a book by one of your current favorite authors about your all-time favorite author is possibly one of the best literary experiences I can imagine.

In H.P. Lovecraft: Against the World, Against Life Michel Houellebecq, the bitterly cynical, oft-misunderstood French misanthrope and champion of 21st-century nihilism, attempts to demystify exactly what it is about Lovecraft's fiction that has allowed it to remain fresh and relevant after nearly a century.

And he succeeds in ways I never thought possible.

I was introduced to Lovecraft's work at the age of 11. With childhood disappearing further and further behind me, I found a deep fascination with the horrid, unnameable monsters populating the bizarre Providence gentleman's tales. As with the suddenly-burgeoning mysteries of adulthood manifesting in my life, Lovecraft's unspeakable shamblers from the stars also defied logic and struck me with a profound, nearly paralyzing fear. As I grew older, my focus expanded to include not just the eldritch beings barely contained in Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, but Lovecraft's clinical view of the universe as a near-entity of its own, pitilessly indifferent to the plight of humanity, an unremarkable and insignificant accident lost amidst the ceaseless, timeless and immutable drone of the music of the spheres. Not surprisingly, this new understanding of Lovecraft's work neatly coincided with my freshly-developed interest in human evolution, a passion which stripped away my self-righteous and inflated notion that we stand above all life in the world. And now, at a time when I've determined there are questions which shall forever remain unanswerable, Lovecraft's work resonates just as soundly as it did then, for "Kadath in the cold waste hath known Them, and what man knows Kadath?"

Houellebecq, whose own work is focused almost entirely on the banal, realistic horrors of modern life, has adapted Lovecraft's world view so soundly into his own work (without sight of nary one rugose, tentacled horror)it belies a truly deep-seated love and understanding of the master's craft, and, indeed, his life. And, like any other of Houellbecq's fictional works, this book is full of sharp, terse insights that are pure crystallizations of every ineffable feeling and unfocused thought I've ever had about Lovecraft's life and creations. His argument--that the manner in which Lovecraft lived as he did, wrote what he did, and wrote the way he did, as a rejection of life itself--is the most profound thing I've ever heard said of the man or his work.

I cannot recommend this book enough. I've already read it multiple times and will continue to do so as (and if) the years go on. The addition of two of Lovecraft's finest stories ("The Call of Cthulhu" and "The Whisperer in Darkness") as a postscript only add to the value of this slim tone. If you, after reading Lovecraft's work, ever looked to the black seas of infinity above and wondered if the piecing together of disassociated knowledge shall either drive us mad from the revelation or flee from the deadly light into the peace and safety of a new dark age, then please, I implore you--read this book.

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06/22/07

Jason Pettus rated it:

Read in June, 2007

(Full review can be found at the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com].)

For Americans who don't know -- there's this French dude named Michel Houellebecq who a lot of Europeans are super pissed at. And that's because he's a writer, see, a brilliant one, who also happens to be a misanthrope, and who sincerely despises just about 98 percent of all humanity, and takes great care to detail all the ways they deserve his hatred in his provocative novels, which hav...more (Full review can be found at the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com].)

For Americans who don't know -- there's this French dude named Michel Houellebecq who a lot of Europeans are super pissed at. And that's because he's a writer, see, a brilliant one, who also happens to be a misanthrope, and who sincerely despises just about 98 percent of all humanity, and takes great care to detail all the ways they deserve his hatred in his provocative novels, which have all been big hits in Europe but virtually unknown here, unsurprisingly enough. And this includes 2001's sex-tourism farce Platform, which has just some incredibly unkind things to say about Muslims (as well as Jews, Christians, atheists, women, men, the old, the young, and anyone else who breathes oxygen); so much so that a group of Muslims decided to take him to court in Europe for attempting to incite racially-based violence. And the lawsuit became a continental sensation, not the least of which was because of Houellebecq being in court each day and affecting the exact haughty, bored, superior tone and look throughout the proceedings that got him into trouble in the first place; for refusing to apologize, for refusing to say "you must've misunderstood me," for acting like the entire lawsuit was beneath him to begin with, and proof of what a bunch of moronic meatsacks humanity actually is. And this of course turned him into an even bigger sensation in Europe than he already was, which of course was also routinely ignored by the press here in the US, so that to this day barely any Americans at all know who Houellebecq is or why so many people are angry at him.

Well, except McSweeney's, that is, the small press started by literary wunderkind Dave Eggers, which in the 1990s became the posterchild not only for American hipster intellectuals but also for the power of daily digitally-distributed original content, years before the term "blog" had even been invented. Their organization, which also includes the "anti-poser" lit-crit publication The Believer, has become well-known for introducing global authors to a grateful American audience; in fact, one could argue that they are almost single-handedly responsible for the US popularity of Haruki Murakami. So when Believer Books recently got a chance to reprint Houellebecq's very first full-length manuscript in English form for the first time, plus managed to convince horror icon Stephen King to write a new introduction, I have to imagine that they almost peed in their pants jumping at it; the result is the extended literary essay HP Lovecraft: Against the World, Against Life, originally written in 1988, a slim tone which much like Nicholson Baker's U & I is partly an analysis of a particular writer's oeuvre (in Baker's case, John Updike), partly a gushing love letter as to why they like these particular authors so much. And make no mistake; if you're already familiar with Houellebecq's fictional work, the essay will also suddenly make his own motivations and aims so much clearer, and make you understand his own work so much better too.

As a matter of fact...(less)

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11/30/08

Quentin rated it:

Read in November, 2008

It's an extended essay on the human condition disguised as a biography of H.P. Lovecraft. Houellebecq's vision of the world is ultimately as nihilistic as most of lovecraft's anonymous protagonists, but he lays out a convincing case that Lovecraft was ultimately an anti-rationalist--he was a profound believer in science, but saw no hope in science's ability to save or uplift anyone. And this pessimistic contradiction was confounded (or augmented) by Lovecraft's virulent racism, which located t...more

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02/27/09

Tom Meade rated it:

bookshelves: horror, library-book, non-fiction, weird

Read in February, 2009

This is a very slight book, and offers little new information for anyone already at least casually acquainted with Lovecraft's life, works and general character. It is, however, a very quick read, and worth it for the insights into the nature and allure of weird fiction which Houellebecq's essay provides, as well as the author's various postulations on the how and why of Lovecraft himself. The book also boasts an excellent (albeit obviously hastily written) introduction by Stephen King, and the ...more

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09/18/08

Louise rated it:

Read in October, 2008

recommends it for: Houellebecq and Lovecraft fans

If you love Michel Houellebecq you'll find this fascinating. Howard Phillips Lovecraft is an underrated tale teller and misanthrope with an amazing imagination, the influence of which can be felt in Houellebecq's works especially the last, The Possibility of an Island. And even tho, at times, Houellebecq gets as close to a hagiography as one can with a sexless racist, his explanation of Lovecraft's life and works is a captivating read due in no small part to the quality of Houellebecq's writin...more

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01/27/09

Spoonbridge rated it:

Read in January, 2009

A surprisingly breezy, quick read, I found much to ponder in Houellebecq's analysis of Lovecraft's work. Houellebecq's argument that Lovecraft's genius sprung from his hatred of the world, indeed, that all art originates from a distaste for the "real," is an interesting one but I am not sure that I can truly agree with it. It is definitely some food for thought. It also contains my two favorite stories written by HPL as well.

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03/11/09

John Madziarczyk rated it:

Read in January, 2005

Houellebecq is another of those French authors who hate everything, only he's a contemporary. This book consists of a long essay by him about Lovecraft and two of Lovecraft's short stories. Recommended for a different take on American horror.

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08/10/08

Chris rated it:

Misanthropic Houellebecq discusses the nihilism and fear implicit in one of his early influences, the fantastic author of weird fiction, Howard Phillips Lovecraft. I did not know Lovecraft's works were divided into his minor works and "the Great Texts", as Houellebecq names them. Basically, a few very short essays by Houellebecq, an intro by Stephen King, and two Lovecraft shorts "The Call of Cthulu" (1926) and "The Whisperer in Darkness" (1931).
A nice interl...more

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01/16/09

Daniel rated it:

Read in January, 2009

I didn't get very far into this. Not sure what I was expecting, but I couldn't really get into it. Some books make you want to stop whatever you're doing in order to read them. This one made me wonder what chores I could do when I had free time.

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09/07/07

Jesse rated it:

bookshelves: him, them

Read in July, 2007

This was the only book I completed this summer aside from Harry Potter. It's sort of funny because I completed Potter as a gesture FOR the world and life. HPL : ATWAL successfully rekindled my interest in Lovecraft (although that fizzled when I subsequently attempted to expand my Lovecraft reading beyond the "major texts" that I had devoured in high school and college), who was a fascinating, tormented individual.

I'm sure that someone familiar with M.H.'s fiction would fin...more

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11/11/08

Henrik rated it:

bookshelves: horror, scholarship

Read this a year or two ago. While I disagree with Houellebecq on some, main, points, I still value that he takes the issue of HPL & his stories serious and has true respect for it.

Also, it is fascinating to read something which is on one hand scholarly-like and on the other fiction (he claims that this is really his first novel); only a French author could get away with that, I think;-)

Contrary to many I quite like Stephen King's foreword to this edition--even if he make...more

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04/05/07

madeleine rated it:

This book was a blockbuster hit in my circle of friends last year.

We would actually do our best to quote passages out of it to one another. How could you not with lines like, "Attack the story like a radiant suicide, utter the great NO to life without weakness..." and "Those who love life do not read. Nor do they go to the movies, actually. No matter what might be said, access to the artistic universe is more or less entirely the preserve of those who are a little f...more

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04/05/07

elyk rated it:

brilliance: "Life is painful and disappointing. It is useless, therefore, to write new, realistic novels. We generally know where we stand in relation to reality and don't care to know any more. Humanity, such as it is, inspires only an attenuated curiosity in us. All those prodigiously refined notations, situations, anecdotes ... All they do, once a book has been set aside, is reinforce the slight revulsion that is already adequately nourished by any one of our "real life" days."

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05/11/07

Becca rated it:

smartest criticism of hpl i've encountered from an author who understands nihilism. my only complaint: houllebecq does not take into consideration the generative power of hpl's language -- which perhaps combats that nihilism. stephen king's intro is nice too. plus you get 2 stories.

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04/25/08

Lee rated it:

Read in May, 2008

Come for Houellebecq's essay about Lovecraft (wherein, in 1991, Michel essentially drafts the thematic and stylistic blueprint for his future novels), but stay for the suprisingly awesome Lovecraft tales. (I rarely have nightmares but have since reading these -- seriously!)

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03/11/08

Billy rated it:

Read in March, 2008

This was a wonderful analysis of Lovecraft, whose writing I'm only just beginning to explore. Houellebecq and I seem to share a similar world view. Many of his insights here have helped to expand and clarify my thinking on similar themes in my own writing and artwork.

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11/27/07

Hater Shepard added it

I don't give a shit shingle for or against Houellebecq. I might pick this up tho for a second to figure out what part of Lovecraft would work for me. I like E.A. Poe, but that's about it in this direction. Someone give me a tip?

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04/05/07

Doug rated it:

Read in June, 2006

Houellebecq attempts to explain Lovecraft's literary philosophy while arguing his place among the 20th century's greatest writers. Houellebecq obviously adores Lovecraft, and his passion is infectious.

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10/19/07

Richard rated it:

Read in January, 2005

If I understand correctly, Lovecraft is in fact a realist. Most of us just won't admit that life is as terrifying as a Lovecraft story.

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"Life is painful and disappointing. It is useless, therefore, to write new realistic novels. We generally know where we stand in relation to reality and don’t care to know any more." More quotes...