H. P. Lovecraft saw the film The Golem in 1921; based on the 1915 novel by Gustav Meyrink, Lovecraft thought the film faithful to the book, which he had never read as it was relatively scarce. In 1925 he began to write his essay "Supernatural Fiction in Literature," which was published in 1927. He immediately began compiling notes for a fuller version, which was not completely published within his lifetime.

The original 1927 version contains the following section on Jewish supernatural fiction:

A very flourishing, though till recently quite hidden, branch of weird literature is that of the Jews, kept alive and nourished in obscurity by the sombre heritage of early Eastern magic, apocalyptic literature, and cabbalism. The Semitic mind, like the Celtic and Teutonic, seems to possess marked mystical inclinations; and the wealth of underground horror-lore surviving in ghettoes and synagogues must be much more considerable than is generally imagined. Cabbalism itself, so prominent during the Middle Ages, is a system of philosophy explaining the universe as emanations of the Deity, and involving the existence of strange spiritual realms and beings apart from the visible world, of which dark glimpses may be obtained through certain secret incantations. Its ritual is bound up with mystical interpretations of the Old Testament, and attributes an esoteric significance to each letter of the Hebrew alphabet—a circumstance which has imparted to Hebrew letters a sort of spectral glamour and potency in the popular literature of magic. Jewish folklore has preserved much of the terror and mystery of the past, and when more thoroughly studied is likely to exert considerable influence on weird fiction. The best examples of its literary use so far are the German novel The Golem, by Gustav Meyrink, and the drama The Dybbuk, by the Jewish writer using the pseudonym “Ansky”. The former, widely popular through the cinema a few years ago, treats of a legendary artificial giant animated by a mediaeval rabbin of Prague according to certain cryptic formula. The Dybbuk, translated and produced in America in 1925, describes with singular power the possession of a living body by the evil soul of a dead man. Both golems and dybbuks are fixed types, and serve as frequent ingredients of later Jewish tradition.

In 1935, however, Lovecraft was able to actually read a copy of The Golem, borrowed from his young friend Robert H. Barlow. He commented on it in a letter:

I lately read Gustav Meyrink’s “The Golem”—lent me by little Ar-E’chBei. The most magnificent weird thing I’ve come across in aeons! The cinema of the same title which I saw in 1921 was a mere substitute using the name—with nothing of the novel in it. What a study in subtle fear, brooding hints of elder magic, & vague driftings to & fro across the borderline betwixt dream & waking! There are no overt monsters or miracles—just symbols & suggestions. As a study in lurking, insidious regional horror it has scarcely a peer. It does for the ancient, crumbling Prague ghetto what I vainly sought to do for rotting Newburyport in “The Shadow over Innsmouth.” I had never seen the novel before, but mentioned it in my article as a result of having seen the cinema. Now I perceive that I ought to have given it an even higher rating.

• H. P. Lovecraft to Clark Ashton Smith, 11 Aug 1935, Dawnward Spire, Lonely Hill 603-604

To partially correct his essay in its later printing, Lovecraft amended (emphasis mine):

The best examples of its literary use so far are the German novel The Golem, by Gustav Meyrink, and the drama The Dybbuk, by the Jewish writer using the pseudonym “Ansky”. The former, with its haunting shadowy suggestions of marvels and horrors just beyond reach, is laid in Prague, and describes with singular mastery that city’s ancient ghetto with its spectral, peaked gables. The name is derived from a fabulous artificial giant supposed to be made and animated by mediaeval rabbis according to a certain cryptic formula. The Dybbuk, translated and produced in America in 1925, and more recently produced as an opera, describes with singular power the possession of a living body by the evil soul of a dead man. Both golems and dybbuks are fixed types, and serve as frequent ingredients of later Jewish tradition.

Lovecraft himself elsewhere confessed a general ignorance to Jewish literature and the details of Jewish religion and legend, but it's nice to know that in this one particular, at least, he realized he was wrong and strove to make a correction to be more accurate. The revised version of his essay can be read here.

For those who were engaged in the discussion of sugar plantation slaves in America vs. the Caribbean:

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/life/article/fort-bend-last-sugarhouse-plantation-slavery-14556046.php

You may find this interesting.

Your Weekly /r/askhistorians Recap

Friday, October 18 - Thursday, October 24

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I dont know if this fits the requirements here, but I would like a few book recommendations concerning the following:

A. European medieval history. Of course I understand it is an immense subject but consider me a layman who 30 years after school history (and being Greek, our history books were mainly focused on greek or byzantine history) wants to read something accessible to people-who-are-not-historians-but-read-a-lot that covers the fundamentals and maybe goes a bit further. Something like this maybe. (If this is a solid recommendation, say it, I was just browsing for relevant books)

B. Move to the other side and recommend books on the history of the U.S. I *think* I am more interested in colonial times and up to the revolution. Multiple books concerning each period are welcome. Of course general recommendations are welcome too.

Something about the reader's tastes so that I can maybe make your choices easier: Apart from the big pictures I like the every-day-life details and "anecdotes". You know what I remember fondly as a kid? The yellow pages in the printed version of "Once upon a time..man" where it was pointed out why knives began having rounded points, how many toilets where in Versailles (:D) why people in England drive at the left side of the road, how a medieval paesant spent his day etc. Yes, I have read history books since then, but I always like books organised and written in a less academic style (but still, scientifically solid). If you cant think of something that is solid scientifically but a bit "lighter", then go on, hit me hard .

Thanks a lot for even reading this rant, sorry for the long post. :D

Hello, Anyone have inspirational advice for young History students? I was also curious about book recommendations for history students that you have either found helpful to you as a History student or just helpful for anyone studying history? Anyways, happy Friday to all!

I'm looking for book recommendations on the Pacific War. More specific details:

So, I've been sorta obsessed with cultural/social attitudes during World War 2, namely how individuals in Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan coped with the specter of defeat being raised over their nations.

I've read a few good sources on German attitudes and reactions (an especially fantastic one by Ian Kershaw, The End, I just finished), and now I wanna move on to Japan.

I'm mostly curious how the people and leadership reacted first to being defeated in the Pacific, then to the Emperor surrendering and the nation being occupied.

I asked a question here about Japanese holdout's reactions specifically, considering they held out the fight while the rest of their nation surrendered (what a mindfuck that must've been), and while I'd love a source that touches on that, I'm also interested in the country's reactions as a whole, and how their culture was able to collectively move on from the fanatical do-or-die attitude of the war years.

I think there's some incredibly insightful lessons on the human condition when we look at how people reacted when the roof was caving in on their grand utopian vision. It's why this sorta topic has been so enticing to me recently, and if anyone can help point me in the right direction to read more I'd really appreciate it.

I’m looking for book recommendations on Safavid Persia, Mughals, Ottoman Empire and the Mamluks (Egypt)

Preferably military stuff (i.e: campaigns, equipment, wars.etc).

Thanks