Some of the writers August Derleth published during his 32 year reign at Arkham House have become legends among collectors and connoisseurs of weird fiction. Others have faded into unfortunate obscurity. Peter Ruber now brings 21 writers to life in detailedbiographical essays that document little-known events through exhaustive research, and their long correspondence with August Derleth. These essays and an extensive introduction provide a rare and sometimes controversial insider's history of Arkham House, in which the editor also challenges some of the myths perpetuated by misinformed critics over the last three decades. With the addition of 21 rare stories and letters (most published here for the first time), the 445 pages of "Arkham"s Masters of Horror" form a book within a book. This unique and important anthology is required reading for everyone who enjoys weird fiction, and is interested in learning more about Arkham House, its founder, and the writers who made the era from 1939 to 1971 one of the most exciting in the history of specialty press publishing. Featured writers include: H.P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Robert Bloch, Henry S. Whitehead, Robert E. Howard, H. Russell Wakefield, Seabury Quinn, Vincent Starrett, E. Hoffmann Price, Carl Jacobi, Donald Wandrei, Ramsey Campbell, and many others.
