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History of the Necronomicon
History of the Necronomicon is a short text written by H. P. Lovecraft. It describes the origins of the fictional book of the same the occult grimoire Necronomicon, a now-famous element of some of his stories. The short text purports to be non-fiction, adding to the appearance of 'pseudo-authenticity' which Lovecraft valued in building his Cthulhu Mythos oeuvre. Accordingly, it supposes the history of the Necronomicon as the inspiration for Robert W. Chambers' The King in Yellow, which concerns a book that overthrows the minds of those who read it.
10 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1938
13 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
H.P. Lovecraft
6,284 books19.4k followersHoward Phillips Lovecraft, of Providence, Rhode Island, was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction.
Lovecraft's major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror: life is incomprehensible to human minds and the universe is fundamentally alien. Those who genuinely reason, like his protagonists, gamble with sanity. Lovecraft has developed a cult following for his Cthulhu Mythos, a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a pantheon of human-nullifying entities, as well as the Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works were deeply pessimistic and cynical, challenging the values of the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Christianity. Lovecraft's protagonists usually achieve the mirror-opposite of traditional gnosis and mysticism by momentarily glimpsing the horror of ultimate reality.
Although Lovecraft's readership was limited during his life, his reputation has grown over the decades. He is now commonly regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th Century, exerting widespread and indirect influence, and frequently compared to Edgar Allan Poe.
See also Howard Phillips Lovecraft.
— Wikipedia
Lovecraft's major inspiration and invention was cosmic horror: life is incomprehensible to human minds and the universe is fundamentally alien. Those who genuinely reason, like his protagonists, gamble with sanity. Lovecraft has developed a cult following for his Cthulhu Mythos, a series of loosely interconnected fictions featuring a pantheon of human-nullifying entities, as well as the Necronomicon, a fictional grimoire of magical rites and forbidden lore. His works were deeply pessimistic and cynical, challenging the values of the Enlightenment, Romanticism and Christianity. Lovecraft's protagonists usually achieve the mirror-opposite of traditional gnosis and mysticism by momentarily glimpsing the horror of ultimate reality.
Although Lovecraft's readership was limited during his life, his reputation has grown over the decades. He is now commonly regarded as one of the most influential horror writers of the 20th Century, exerting widespread and indirect influence, and frequently compared to Edgar Allan Poe.
See also Howard Phillips Lovecraft.
— Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
July 8, 2019
This is the history of one of the most notorious fictive books ever. I especially liked the reference to the Pickman family (you can read Lovecraft's story Pickman's Model) and the interesting rumours on Abdul Alhazred's death. Very creepy, very informative and with absolutely cult status. You have to check your local library for an edition. Absolutely recommended for every traveler in the Lovecraft universe!
Read
April 3, 2019This book was banned by Pope Gregory IX in 1232, shortly after its Latin translation, which called attention to it.
I guess Gregory hadn't heard that all publicity is good publicity.
It was from rumors of this book (of which relatively few of the general public know) that R.W. Chambers is said to have derived the idea of his early novel The King in Yellow.
Heh. I wonder if Chambers would have been amused this playful revisionism? I think he had passed away before this was published.
Lovecraft and friends really put a lot of detail into their made-up texts; one can see why many contemporary readers thought the Necronomicon was a real book.
I guess Gregory hadn't heard that all publicity is good publicity.
It was from rumors of this book (of which relatively few of the general public know) that R.W. Chambers is said to have derived the idea of his early novel The King in Yellow.
Heh. I wonder if Chambers would have been amused this playful revisionism? I think he had passed away before this was published.
Lovecraft and friends really put a lot of detail into their made-up texts; one can see why many contemporary readers thought the Necronomicon was a real book.
September 6, 2015
A complete history of the dreaded Necronomicon, its Greek and Latin translations. I can't ignore how important the book is for so many Lovecraft's stories so the rating reflects that fact.
August 28, 2017
Per the title it's short and sweet.
OVERALL GRADE: B minus.
OVERALL GRADE: B minus.
August 3, 2018
A concise history of Lovecraft's fictional book the Necronomicon. Made to exclusively suppliment the references of the text within the main stories.
January 25, 2019
Cool little fictional history of one of the most notorious imaginary books. I wish I could have a copy.
January 26, 2026
The Evil Dead did it better
2.5
it's short and sweet and establishes a lot of the bases for the cannon and mythos but this isn't really a book and could as easily just be an intro into an actual story.
2.5
it's short and sweet and establishes a lot of the bases for the cannon and mythos but this isn't really a book and could as easily just be an intro into an actual story.
November 23, 2024
Thanks Mr lovecraft
April 16, 2022
“Reading leads to terrible consequences.”
October 26, 2024
The amount of details he has put in his stories or texts really makes it more fun. I am having the time of my life exploring the lovecraftian lores.
No wonder people thought the necronomicon book was real, he assembles the details, which are so close to reality, that it’s eerily convincing (or you’d want it to be)
No wonder people thought the necronomicon book was real, he assembles the details, which are so close to reality, that it’s eerily convincing (or you’d want it to be)
September 14, 2025
The original Necronomicon was written so long ago and I tried to avoid it like the plague as I don't believe in anything like this. Now H.P. Lovecraft used it for his own entities, but since I don't like the idea of a book about the dead and the original origin of it, I was also not able to like Lovecraft's version.
March 6, 2022
Este "cuento" en realidad es una nota de pie de pagina de los otros libros de Lovecraft que mencionan el necronomicon
December 31, 2022
Fascinating reading, and can see the importance of it in the grand scheme of cosmic horror.
Read
March 14, 2025caí completico en un clickbait autosugestionado (entendí historia como parte del contenido del necronomicon y no sobre el mismo) so yeah....
January 3, 2026
Horror, short story by a master, Great Narration!!
February 24, 2025
I don’t know anything about Cthulhu but I think this is a good place to start. Way different than his normal stories and reads as instructions rather than a story. I thought it was really interesting… might dig more into this Cthulhu
March 14, 2016
Recommendable only to the most avid fans of Lovecraftian literature, and not anyone else. I am Lovecraft fan myself, but I did not enjoy reading this.
June 5, 2019
This is a cute little work of H.P. Lovecraft where he relates the origin and history of the fictional book which holds such a prominent position in the majority of his stories.
June 25, 2022
Rating 70
It's pretty cool that Lovecraft describes the history of a fictional book pretty realistically but being only two pages it's pretty short. Kinda hard rating this tbh.
It's pretty cool that Lovecraft describes the history of a fictional book pretty realistically but being only two pages it's pretty short. Kinda hard rating this tbh.
November 11, 2024
Clásico que vale más por ser la historia del mitico necronomicon
6/10
6/10
August 16, 2025
This is not a short story in the traditional sense, but more of a fictional history or meta-text that Lovecraft wrote to give depth and mystery to his larger mythos. The History of the Necronomicon is only a few pages long, but it is one of those pieces that takes on a life far beyond its word count. Here, Lovecraft lays out the supposed origins of the dreaded tome, penned by the “mad Arab” Abdul Alhazred in Damascus around 730 A.D. He charts the translations, the bans by church authorities, and the rare scattered copies hidden away in universities or private hands.
What makes this work so fascinating is how seriously it is written. Lovecraft does not treat it as fantasy, but as a dry academic entry, much like something you would find in a catalog of forbidden books. That approach is what gives it weight. Readers are left wondering, “is it possible this thing is real?” It shows Lovecraft’s skill not only in creating monsters and cosmic horrors, but in building an entire mythology with its own texts, scholars, and whispered histories.
Of course, there is no “real” Necronomicon, despite many hoaxes and later attempts to publish fake editions. Lovecraft himself was clear that he invented the book. Still, The History of the Necronomicon has been so effective that people continue to believe it might exist. That is perhaps the greatest success of this short work — convincing generations of readers that something imaginary is lurking just beyond reach.
Unlike later movies that name-drop the Necronomicon, especially in pulp horror or campy adaptations like The Evil Dead series, Lovecraft’s original concept was not about a book that immediately causes monsters to appear. Instead, it was about knowledge that should never be known, history that corrodes the mind just by being read. That difference is important, as it keeps with his theme of cosmic dread rather than cheap scares.
In the end, The History of the Necronomicon is essential reading for anyone interested in the Cthulhu Mythos. It may be short, but it is one of those keystone pieces that makes the rest of Lovecraft’s universe feel larger, more ancient, and more dangerous.
What makes this work so fascinating is how seriously it is written. Lovecraft does not treat it as fantasy, but as a dry academic entry, much like something you would find in a catalog of forbidden books. That approach is what gives it weight. Readers are left wondering, “is it possible this thing is real?” It shows Lovecraft’s skill not only in creating monsters and cosmic horrors, but in building an entire mythology with its own texts, scholars, and whispered histories.
Of course, there is no “real” Necronomicon, despite many hoaxes and later attempts to publish fake editions. Lovecraft himself was clear that he invented the book. Still, The History of the Necronomicon has been so effective that people continue to believe it might exist. That is perhaps the greatest success of this short work — convincing generations of readers that something imaginary is lurking just beyond reach.
Unlike later movies that name-drop the Necronomicon, especially in pulp horror or campy adaptations like The Evil Dead series, Lovecraft’s original concept was not about a book that immediately causes monsters to appear. Instead, it was about knowledge that should never be known, history that corrodes the mind just by being read. That difference is important, as it keeps with his theme of cosmic dread rather than cheap scares.
In the end, The History of the Necronomicon is essential reading for anyone interested in the Cthulhu Mythos. It may be short, but it is one of those keystone pieces that makes the rest of Lovecraft’s universe feel larger, more ancient, and more dangerous.
January 21, 2026
A brief history.
An interesting and under capitalised little scrap of lore for fans of the Mythos, more than an actual story, but still a great little rundown of one of the greatest literary props ever invented. It is barely a page long and wastes its potential, but it is fascinating seeing the fictional tome’s life summarised. It is great to get a reference to The Nameless City, and the allusion to Abdul Alhazred’s death is great, as is the mystique of the American Millionaire having a copy in his private collection, and the name drop of Pickman’s family. It is a shame the private copy in The Festival isn't mentioned, and I really would have liked it turned into an actual tale. I would have loved to see three criminals like the lads from The Terrible Old Man be hired to break in and steal the Miskatonic edition by a shadowy figure that turns out to be Nharlethotep.
2.5 Skin Bound Tomes out of 5
📕📕.5⬛⬛⬛
An interesting and under capitalised little scrap of lore for fans of the Mythos, more than an actual story, but still a great little rundown of one of the greatest literary props ever invented. It is barely a page long and wastes its potential, but it is fascinating seeing the fictional tome’s life summarised. It is great to get a reference to The Nameless City, and the allusion to Abdul Alhazred’s death is great, as is the mystique of the American Millionaire having a copy in his private collection, and the name drop of Pickman’s family. It is a shame the private copy in The Festival isn't mentioned, and I really would have liked it turned into an actual tale. I would have loved to see three criminals like the lads from The Terrible Old Man be hired to break in and steal the Miskatonic edition by a shadowy figure that turns out to be Nharlethotep.
“In his last years Alhazred dwelt in Damascus, where the Necronomicon was written, and of his final death or disappearance (738 A.D.) many terrible and conflicting things are told. He is said by Ebn Khallikan (12th cent. biographer) to have been seized by an invisible monster in broad daylight and devoured horribly before a large number of fright frozen witnesses.”
2.5 Skin Bound Tomes out of 5
📕📕.5⬛⬛⬛
June 11, 2024
FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
Before getting into this short story I thought that I wouldn’t like it because of the theme of this short story. But after reading it, I need to say that I loved it.
The writing style is so amazing in this one, and it screams that H.P Lovecraft wrote it and I love that. The writing style really had build the atmosphere in this one because it was so good.
The plot itself here isn’t really my type what I’ve enjoyed it enough to give it 4 stars. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the plot but I still appreciate it and found it interesting.
For the most part this short story is nothing more than just a cute little short story with an eerie vibe in it.
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
Before getting into this short story I thought that I wouldn’t like it because of the theme of this short story. But after reading it, I need to say that I loved it.
The writing style is so amazing in this one, and it screams that H.P Lovecraft wrote it and I love that. The writing style really had build the atmosphere in this one because it was so good.
The plot itself here isn’t really my type what I’ve enjoyed it enough to give it 4 stars. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the plot but I still appreciate it and found it interesting.
For the most part this short story is nothing more than just a cute little short story with an eerie vibe in it.
December 29, 2022
Quite remarkable that a work of fiction can ascend to the common mythos. As a younger man who didn't know much about H.P. Lovecraft I thought that the necronomicon was perhaps a real book. I'm sure there are many that have this perception as well. It may be his most successful creation in the zeitgeist, even more so than Cthulhu.
There are many historical references in this short work, giving it immersion.
There are many historical references in this short work, giving it immersion.
June 15, 2022
Одна из самых удачных литературных мистификаций без какого-либо желания автора запустить таковую. Лавкрафт запустил в народ идею книги-кторой-нет и она там здорово укоренилась, так что неизвестно сколько людей считает, что это реальная книга. Или даже, что Говард имел в руках настоящий "Некрономикон", но выдавал всё это за фантазию.
August 11, 2022
écouté ici en français : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHZVy...
Pure kiff pour les bibliophiles sur cette histoire technique précise mais fantasmée d'un livre maudit, soumis à la censure de l'ensemble des clergés, de ses rumeurs de circulation clandestine, qui entretient la richesse du mythe entier des Anciens et de leur culte persistant à travers les âges.
Pure kiff pour les bibliophiles sur cette histoire technique précise mais fantasmée d'un livre maudit, soumis à la censure de l'ensemble des clergés, de ses rumeurs de circulation clandestine, qui entretient la richesse du mythe entier des Anciens et de leur culte persistant à travers les âges.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2023
La historia del Necronomicón es una historia corta escrita por H.P. Lovecraft.
La historia es interesante y realmente la puedes leer en 5 minutos. Si bien no es particularmente elaborada, diría que es lectura obligada tomando en cuenta que ha sido punto de partida para muchas otras historias y libros, tanto del mismo H. P. Lovecraft como de otros autores.
La historia es interesante y realmente la puedes leer en 5 minutos. Si bien no es particularmente elaborada, diría que es lectura obligada tomando en cuenta que ha sido punto de partida para muchas otras historias y libros, tanto del mismo H. P. Lovecraft como de otros autores.
February 23, 2024
"He was only an indifferent Moslem, worshipping unknown entities whom he called Yog-Sothoth and Cthulhu."
This was a good little primer on the fictional history of Lovecraft's Necronomicon. There were some decent little details here and a few key references to his other works too.
I look forward to seeing what this book within a book is capable of, for my sins.
This was a good little primer on the fictional history of Lovecraft's Necronomicon. There were some decent little details here and a few key references to his other works too.
I look forward to seeing what this book within a book is capable of, for my sins.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews