When Charles Dexter Ward escapes from a mental asylum Wards' family doctor, Marinus Bicknell Willett, endeavours to unearth the reason for the madness and physiological changes that afflicted his patient. Willett learns that Ward had spent the last few years looking for the grave of his ancestor entrepreneur and alleged alchemist, Joseph Curwen. However, Willet discovers that the notable entrepreneur guarded a terrible secret. A chilling tale of evil spirits and supernatural forces, "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" is highly recommended for fans of horror fiction and is not to be missed by those who have read and enjoyed other works by this author. Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) was an American writer of supernatural horror fiction. Though his works remained largely unknown and did not furnish him with a decent living, Lovecraft is today considered to be among the most significant writers of supernatural horror fiction of the twentieth century. Read & Co. is publishing this classic novel now as part of our "Fantasy and Horror Classics" imprint in a new edition with a dedication by George Henry Weiss.