No creation from Lovecraft's pen has achieved such notoriety as the dreaded Necronomicon. Featured in several tales, this eldritch tome was so realistically portrayed by Lovecraft, that many believe to this day it actually exists! In contributing to the mystique of his own creation, Lovecraft penned this "hoax" essay for some fans who wanted to know more about the Necronomicon's history. In it, he gives detailed background on its creation and various supposed translations made through the centuries. Rounding out this edition is a brief essay by S. T. Joshi chronicling Lovecraft's development of this book and its title.