H.P. Lovecraft is known for fiction that render twisted , supernatural reality . However , a recently rediscovered manuscript co - written by the author expresses disbelief toward the paranormal . According toThe Guardian , a forgotten Lovecraft narrative calledThe Cancer of Superstitionwas recently come up amid a collection of items from an old magical workshop . commission by leakage artistHarry Houdini , the 31 - page work investigates — and condemns — superstition through the ages .
Potter & Potter Auctions
The work was found among the papers of Beatrice Houdini and her manager , Edward Saint . After Beatrice ’s end , the documents passed from owner to possessor until a private purchaser late purchase them , came across the story , and realized its importance .
Now , Potter & Potter Auctions of Chicagowill sell the story in an auction sale of Harry Houdini memorabilia on April 9 . Bids embark on at $ 13,000 , although experts think it might fetch anywhere from $ 25,000 to $ 40,000 .
Houdini hired Lovecraft to writeThe Cancer of Superstitionin 1926 . When the stuntman perish later that year , the project was put on hold . A synopsis of the story and one of its chapter , The Genesis of Superstition , was published in the 1966 bookThe Dark Brotherhood and Other Pieces . However , scholar did n’t know whether any more of the work — which was intended to be Word - duration — existed until now , Fine Books & Collections writes .
According toThe National , Houdini was n’t a fan of conjuration or spiritualism , and regularly used his stunts to unmask charlatan and frauds . However , Houdiniwasa fan of Lovecraft — a surprising fact , see that the latter never attain celebrity during his lifetime and die out a pauper . Houdini ’s admiration was triggered by a news report Lovecraft had written calledImprisoned with the Pharaohs . The tale was base off one of Houdini ’s “ experience ” in Egypt , and told of the time the notable conjuror supposedly met the god who inspired the ancient Sphinx statue . Lovecraft began ghostwrite kit and caboodle for Houdini , including a lost essay criticize astrology , before starting onThe Cancer of Superstition .
Lovecraft team up up with the author CM Eddy , who reportedly wrote the chapters ofThe Cancer of Superstition . Lovecraft made additions and revision and wrote its synopsis . After touch on topic like werewolves and black magic , Lovecraft and Eddyconcluded that superstitionis an “ inborn leaning ” that “ persists only through mental laziness of those who reject New science . ”
Since Houdini died so soon afterThe Cancer of Superstition ’s starting time , scholars think that Lovecraft and Eddy had only completed a small portion of the project . Now that it ’s been rediscovered , it adds a unexampled historical understanding of the two famous figure ’ fight against scientific ignorance .
“ While Lovecraft entertained proofreader with weird and horrific skill fiction and Houdini astonished audiences with displays of superhuman escapes , both are to be base here in what they call a ‘ military campaign ’ against superstition , ” Potter & Potter president Gabe Fajuri toldThe Guardian . “ They argue that all superstitious feeling are keepsake of a common ‘ prehistorical ignorance ’ in man . ”
[ h / tThe Guardian ]
