A Means to Freedom: The Letters of H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard (TWO VOLUME SET) Paperback – March 14, 2017

These books are exactly what I expected them to be. Deeply personal correspondence between my two favorite authors and two of the most highly influential authors of the 20th century. Both titans speak their minds freely here and what a pleasure it is to behold their well-informed opinions on a multitude of topics including history, folklore, ancient civilizations, the supernatural, and of course each others' work. These letters are unmistakably authentic as each author composes their correspondence in the same instantly recognizable, inimitable style as can be found in their stories. In fact some parts of their letters read like excerpts from stories that had never been published! Their unique descriptive talents are on full display and are sure to delight longtime readers familiar with their respective styles.It's exhilarating to read what each of them thought of the others' work as their praises and criticisms are constantly brilliant and engrossing. While they lavish praise on each other frequently they never do so without explaining in detail what moved them so much. Also neither man is afraid to criticize the others' work yet their constructive comments are always respectful. I have never read such deeply passionate exchanges between two writers.Highlights abound in each letter with astounding revelations and classic quotes from each author that make these books unique treasures for those nuggets of wisdom alone!Of particular note are the many historical battle descriptions/theories by REH as well as the eerie ghost stories that he describes to Lovecraft (told to him by former slaves and elderly cowboys) including the chilling story that inspired his classic terror tale 'Pigeons From Hell'. Lovecraft's highlights include detailed explanations of his mythos as well as the historical and literary inspirations for some of his stories. Lovecraft was quite the traveller and it's fascinating to read his descriptions of the many cities he visited along with various passages commenting on the eeriest elements of each town's history. Both authors were highly educated in world history and ancient European cultures in particular and their mutual knowledge of esoteric subjects is a source of constant amazement to each of them. Their opinions on historic battles, European leaders, archaic rituals and the origins of civilizations is utterly engrossing and gives deep insight into each author's reasoning and imagination. They also comment on controversial topics such as racial and religious matters with frankness.I cannot recommend these books highly enough. It is a damn shame that the print run was so limited on the hardcover version HOWEVER there is a paperback version so GET THEM WHILE YOU CAN! Many people NEED to read these letters. They are as classic as anything written by either author, and with the added dynamic of correspondence between the two, their sophisticated, confident, and mutually civil discourse is worthy of the attention of anyone who appreciates rare inspired correspondence between Grand Masters.

Hey, how can this book of "just letters" be gripping, stunning and action packed. Just letters, right? True, but they are so much more than the kind of letter one typically gets from Aunt Sally or Dad. These are letters that wrestle with almost everything in realm of big ideas (what makes a civilized man, what makes a savage, and who is better; and how about Hitler, will he really usher in an era of progressive peace for humanity?) and the mundane such as Bob Howard admitting her really likes to eat, and being from Texas, likes to eat a lot.These two men have an eloquence that verges on poetry in depth and beauty. They write wide ranging essays to one another, that often number more than ten pages in length. The ideas are free flowing, combustible and innervating. Howard and Lovecraft sink meat hooks into your brain and heart and drag you through a country long gone; yet, it is a time that echoes much of the fears and hopes the grip current day America. East coast elitism and flyover country denigration, gun control, individual rights and government rights, eugenics, over-reaching police power, patriotism, respect for authority, politics, race, immigration, sports, scholarship, culture and the arts, religion (and very little sex), and much more.The ideas collide and the intellects grapple with each other as desperately as any Cimmerian choking the eternal life out of an amorphous elder god. Thoughts hammer the anvil of ideas and intellectual solar systems are birthed in the sparks.And over it all, hangs a grim spectre that with each passing page draws nearer and more inevitable, and even though I knew how this story ends, when it arrived, its arrival was as sudden and as abrupt as thunderclap.Though the words are locked on the page and static, those very same words will split open the reader's mind, allowing the reader to charge across the worlds inhabited by Lovecraft and Howard. They were two very different men, from two very different parts of the country, whose initial polite correspondence of 2 professional writers grows into a deep and long lasting friendship that not only enriched their lives and work, but will also enrich your life, if you are wise enough to acquire A Means to Freedom.This is required reading for those who like to think.

This collection of letters is my favorite book I’ve read this year. I’ve learned so much about these writers and about history, politics, literature, barbarism, and much more. They discuss lots of interesting topics and they have no filter. It’s great to be able to read how people really felt as opposed to virtue signaling phonies.It has an extensive index of topics though I’m enjoying it reading it straight through.

This is exactly what I was hoping for, an exchange of personal letters by two literary pulp giants. In Robert E. Howard and H. P. Lovecraft you get lively discussion, disagreements and sharing of ideas in a myriad of topics. If you're looking to gain a deeper understanding, particularly like I was of REH than this is definitely what you're looking for.

Reading their letter exchange actually makes their fiction seem weirder than before and makes the two men more mysterious than before; usually the opposite is true when you read an authors correspondence. Fascinating.

I only received the first volume of two volume set. I paid for both volumes. I prefer to have second volume sent to me. I will upgrade review if it is sent. If not, I will return first volume and leave the negative review.

The letters from Howards father are some of the most heartbreaking things I have read. You can tell he was simply seeking some closure by sending them.

I had been looking for this set for so long and was thrilled to find it here! My husband was absolutely thrilled to receive this for his birthyday