Show overview
Voluminous: The Letters of H.P. Lovecraft has been publishing since 2019, and across the 4 years since has built a catalogue of 83 episodes. That works out to roughly 85 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 39 min and 1h 18m — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Arts show.
The catalogue appears to be on hiatus or wound down — the most recent episode landed 3.1 years ago, with no new episodes in over a year. The busiest year was 2020, with 45 episodes published. Published by HPLHS Inc..
From the publisher
In addition to his famous classics of horror and science fiction, H.P. Lovecraft wrote tens of thousands of fascinating letters. In each episode Sean Branney and Andrew Leman of the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society read one of those letters and then discuss it.
Latest Episodes
View all 83 episodes
The Unknown the Weird and the Impossible
In what may be our last episode, we explore two letters: one from early in HPL's life and one from near the end. We reflect on what we've learned over a multi-year deep dive into HPL's letters and what it means to a be a Lovecraft fan.
Strange Stories
In which a letter from HPL to Clark Ashton Smith is dissected by Sean, Andrew and our special guest hosts: Chris Lackey and Chad Fifer of the podcast Strange Studies of Strange Stories. It's an episode brimming with weird tales, and of course, cats.
Barbaric
In which guest podcaster Martin Andersson of Sweden joins Sean and Andrew for a discussion of a challenging letter. Classic topics like HPL's favorite foods hide in the shadows cast by topics like police brutality and slavery. Not for the faint of heart.
We Are Mostly Puppets
A super-sized episode about one of HPL's longest letters. In this 70 page monster, HPL writes to Woodburn Harris and covers topics such as ethics, aesthetics, art, and the fall of the Roman Empire. Content warning: this episode features a few instances of the word we bleep. Brace yourself - we're going to be here for a while...
Brawny Viragoes
In which HPL engages with Texas author Robert E. Howard in a feisty debate about police brutality, chivalry, barbarianism and more. But all is well in the end as they celebrate their mutual love of cats and ice cream.
Letters to Sonny — a Hay Homecoming
We explore a feisty letter from HPL to Frank Belknap Long. It's part of a recent acquisition of Lovecraft letters donated to the John Hay Library at Brown. Sean & Andrew visit the Hay for a chat with HPL's personal librarian: Heather Cole.
Live from NecronomiCon
In which Sean and Andrew record a live show at NecronomiCon Providence. There they read an exchange of letters published in the newspaper between a local astronomy enthusiast and the astronomically inclined HPL. Hilarity ensues.
Live from NecronomiCon
In which Sean and Andrew record a live show at NecronomiCon Providence. There they read an exchange of letters published in the newspaper between a local astronomy enthusiast and the astronomically inclined HPL. Hilarity ensues.
Rapidly Ascending to Cosmic Matters
In which HPL writes young Donald Wandrei and opines about man's place in the vastness of the cosmos. Sean and Andrew discuss the Webb telescope and the history of man's understanding of the universe.
Elizabeth and the New York Boys
In which HPL writes his Aunt Lillian a diary letter describing a month of his life while living with Sonia in New York. He recounts two outings to Elizabeth, New Jersey and numerous excursions with his New York pals. Bleep Warning: this episode contains three instances of the word we bleep. https://www.hplhs.org/voluminous74.php
Candidates for Immortality
In which publisher E. Haldeman-Julius writes ABOUT a letter from H.P. Lovecraft in which HPL provided lists of his favorite and least favorite people in history. Hear HPL celebrate Epicurus and Remy de Gourmont while he bags on T.S. Eliot and Jesus.
Nazis, Gangsters and Elvis
In which HPL writes to J. Vernon Shea about his wonderful new flat at 66 College Street. He also talks about Nazis and movies which leads Sean and Andrew to discuss the Hays Code in motion pictures, Elvis and much more.
Enemies of Civilization
In which HPL vigorously engages with fellow author Robert E. Howard regarding barbarism, civilization, the Wild West and European nations invading neighboring countries.
Curious Wonders and Spaghetti
In which HPL writes to his "grandson" Frank Belknap Long of his explorations of never-before-seen neighborhoods of old colonial Providence, including Federal Hill with its many Italian immigrants. We are proud to bring you the complete version of this letter which has previously only been published as a very brief excerpt! Be sure to visit the web page for this episode to see new info we did not have at recording time.
Everyone's a Critic
HPL's correspondence with his amateur press buddy Edward H. Cole is revealed through six letters. Spanning decades, the letters explore art criticism, colonial architecture, condolences, and even a letter to a six month old baby!
Witch-Haunted Salem and Other Ghastliness
In which HPL writes his friend Samuel Loveman of goings on in the amateur press world and then recounts his visits to witch-haunted Salem and Newburyport - the inspiration for Innsmouth!
The Case of the Missing Dickybird
In which HPL discusses James F. Morton's plan to write detective stories about mineralogists and in which a "dickybird" stamp goes missing from an envelope. Detective hijinks abound in this lighthearted letter.
Horrors and Red Hook
In which Lovecraft writes to Bernard Austin Dwyer and recalls his difficult days living in Red Hook, New York two years before. Life in a rough and diverse neighborhood taxed him sorely. Fittingly, we cover Morton's "The Curse of Race Prejudice" too.
The Wind that Is in the Grass
In which HPL prepares for a trip to DeLand, Florida to visit his young correspondent Robert H. Barlow. HPL offers travel tips, thoughts on mental health, and a robust breakdown of the latest issue of Weird Tales in preparation for his trip to visit his young friend.
This Is A Great Country
In which HPL sends a bunch of postcards to his aunts while on a visit with Vrest Orton in Vermont. HPL rhapsodizes about the glorious scenery and survival of old New England. And he gets a few ideas for a story that will take place in Vermont...