Howard Phillips Lovecraft was an American writer of weird, science, fantasy, and horror fiction. He is best known for his creation of the Cthulhu Mythos.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Lovecraft spent most of his life in New England.

After his father's institutionalization in 1893, he lived affluently until his family's wealth dissipated after the death of his grandfather.

Lovecraft then lived with his mother, in reduced financial security, until her institutionalization in 1919.