Lovecraft Country

by Matt Ruff
Lovecraft Country cover
Good Books rating 4.23
Historical Fiction
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Paperback • £9.99
Amazon
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Technical
  • ID: 7737
  • Added: 2025-12-16
  • Updated: 2025-12-31
  • ISBN: 9781509883363
  • Publisher: Pan Macmillan
  • Published: 2017-10-19
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

In the segregated America of 1954, Atticus Turner embarks on a road trip to New England to find his missing father, accompanied by his uncle and childhood friend. Their journey is fraught with danger, as they encounter both the racism of the era and malevolent spirits that seem to leap from the pages of weird fiction. Their destination is the manor of Mr. Braithwhite, heir to an estate with a dark history tied to Atticus's ancestors. There, Atticus discovers his father imprisoned by a secretive cult, and his hope for salvation may come at a terrible cost. /n/n Lovecraft Country is a powerful exploration of racism and its lingering effects, blending historical fiction with elements of horror and the supernatural. The novel is a kaleidoscopic portrait of two black families, their struggles, and their hopes for freedom and power in a world that seeks to deny them both.

Reviews
The Lit Bitch · The Lit Bitch · 2020-10-12
excellent 4.20

The reviewer enjoyed the dark humor woven throughout the book and found it to be a refreshing twist on a well-trodden path. They appreciated the clever use of historical context to highlight the horrors of racism and ignorance.

The reviewer found the dark humor woven throughout the book to be a refreshing twist on a well-trodden path. They appreciated the clever use of historical context to highlight the horrors of racism and ignorance, making the book a powerful commentary on society. The reviewer also noted the clever subversion of the Lovecraft mythos, making it more accessible and thought-provoking. They found the book to be a unique and engaging read, with a clever blend of historical fiction and pulp horror.

Quick quotes

    One of the things I also enjoyed was the surprising dark humor woven throughout the book.

    The book is a refreshing twist on a well-trodden path.

    The clever use of historical context to highlight the horrors of racism and ignorance makes the book a powerful commentary on society.

The Guardian · Damian Gorman · 2018-03-14
brilliant 4.50

The book is described as one of the kindest works in the horror genre, with genuine moments of horror balanced by a shining light. The reviewer appreciates the clever subversion of the Lovecraft mythos.

The reviewer found this book to be a refreshing take on the horror genre, blending genuine moments of horror with a kinder, more subversive approach. They particularly appreciated how the book cleverly subverts the Lovecraft mythos, making it more accessible and thought-provoking. The reviewer also noted the clever use of historical context to highlight the horrors of racism and ignorance, making the book a powerful commentary on society.

Quick quotes

    This must be one of the kindest works in the horror genre I have read.

    What shines through is the clever subversion of the Lovecraft mythos.

    The book is a powerful commentary on society, using historical context to highlight the horrors of racism and ignorance.

Goodreads · A Goodreads User · 2016-02-16
great 4.00

The reviewer loved the book for its contrast of cosmic horror with everyday horrors of racism and ignorance. They found the interconnected short stories to be a great callback to different Lovecraft tropes.

The reviewer was particularly impressed with how the book contrasts the cosmic horror of the Lovecraft mythos with the everyday horrors of racism and ignorance. They found the interconnected short stories to be a great way to explore different Lovecraft tropes, making the book a unique and engaging read. The reviewer also appreciated the clever use of historical context to highlight the horrors of racism and ignorance, making the book a powerful commentary on society.

Quick quotes

    Matt Ruff does a great job of contrasting the cosmic horror of the Lovecraft mythos with the everyday horrors of racism and ignorance.

    I loved the interconnected short stories, each a callback to a different Lovecraft trope.

    The book is a powerful commentary on society, using historical context to highlight the horrors of racism and ignorance.

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