Lonesome Places

Lonesome Places is a 1962 collection of horror and fantasy short stories from August Derleth, published by Arkham House. The book contains 18 stories selected by Derleth himself as his finest work from the previous 15 years. The tales explore supernatural and psychological horror across varied settings - from haunted houses and woodland territories to small towns and domestic spaces. The collection takes its name from the opening story, which establishes themes that echo throughout the book. Each story stands as its own contained narrative while contributing to the collection's broader examination of isolation, fear, and the unknown. Derleth draws from both American Gothic traditions and his own Wisconsin roots to create the settings and atmosphere. The collection demonstrates how physical locations can become vessels for horror, while exploring humanity's complex relationship with solitude and the spaces we designate as "lonesome." These stories examine how places shape our fears and how fear shapes our perception of places.

Readers note this collection of supernatural tales emphasizes atmosphere and suggestion over overt horror. Many reviewers appreciate Derleth's descriptive writing of Wisconsin settings and rural landscapes, though some find his prose style dated or overly verbose. Likes: - Strong sense of place and regional character - Building of slow, creeping dread - Stories "The Lonesome Place" and "The Wind in the Portico" receive specific praise - Effective use of childhood fears and memories Dislikes: - Several stories follow predictable patterns - Some readers find the pacing too slow - Writing style can be dense and antiquated - Multiple reviews mention stories feeling derivative of H.P. Lovecraft Online Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (56 ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (12 ratings) Limited review data exists online for this out-of-print collection. Most discussions appear on horror fiction forums and vintage paperback collecting sites.

Ghost Story by Peter Straub This novel expands on themes of place-based horror through interconnected narratives about a small town haunted by supernatural events from its past.

Dark Matter by Michelle Paver The story transforms an Arctic research station into a vessel for isolation-driven terror that mirrors Derleth's examination of lonesome spaces.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson Jackson's exploration of a house's psychological effect on its inhabitants connects directly to Derleth's focus on how places shape human fears.

Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman The novel uses a small Southern town and surrounding woods to create place-based supernatural horror that echoes Derleth's regional approach.

The Loney by Andrew Michael Hurley This book examines how desolate landscapes become vessels for supernatural horror while maintaining Derleth's focus on isolation and haunted territories.

🌟 August Derleth founded Arkham House Publishers specifically to preserve H.P. Lovecraft's work, publishing Lovecraft's first hardcover book in 1939. 📚 The title "Lonesome Places" was inspired by Derleth's belief that certain locations naturally attract supernatural phenomena, a concept he explored throughout his career. 🏰 Derleth wrote over 150 books across various genres, including pioneering works of "regional fiction" set in his native Wisconsin, which influenced later American horror writers. 🌙 Several stories in the collection were written during Derleth's time living in Sauk City, Wisconsin, where he spent most of his life in a house he named "Place of Hawks." 📖 The book features one of Derleth's signature narrative techniques: using seemingly mundane locations and gradually revealing their sinister nature through subtle atmospheric details.