Despite being relatively unknown by the general public, there is plenty of biographical information about Lovecraft available. This list includes mostly in-print volumes but also includes some of the more important out-of-print books.

Autobiographical Writings

By H.P. Lovecraft (Necronomicon Press). This chapbook collects many of Lovecraft’s own writings about himself.

A Dreamer and a Visionary: H.P. Lovecraft in his Time

By S.T. Joshi (Liverpool University Press). Essentially a much shorter and more accessible version of Joshi’s much larger H.P. Lovecraft: A Life.

The Gentleman from Angell Street: Memories of H.P. Lovecraft

By Muriel E. Eddy and C.M. Eddy, Jr.; Edited by Jim Dyer.

H.P. Lovecraft: A Biography

By L. Sprague de Camp. Originally published as Lovecraft: A Biography in 1975, this has long been the most prominent and available of Lovecraft biographies. Unfortunately, it also has many errors of fact and de Camp tends to be very judgmental towards Lovecraft. Still, it’s a good overview of Lovecraft’s life and works.

H.P. Lovecraft: A Life

By S.T. Joshi (Necronomicon Press). Published in 1996, this has now been superseded by the unabridged version, I Am Providence: The Life and Times of H.P. Lovecraft (see below).

H.P. Lovecraft: Master of Weird Fiction

By William Schoell (Morgan Reynolds Publishing). Part of the “Writers of Imagination” series, targeted at young adult readers.

H.P. Lovecraft: Nightmare Countries

By S.T. Joshi (Metro Books). Lavishly illustrated, this inexpensive book is very accessible for those new to Lovecraft, but still a treat for those already familiar with him.

Howard Phillips Lovecraft: Dreamer on the Nightside

By Frank Belknap Long.

I Am Providence: The Life and Times of H.P. Lovecraft

By S.T. Joshi (Hippocampus Press). A new and unabridged version of Joshi’s H.P. Lovecraft: A Life which restores 150,000 words excised from the original manuscript, making it the new definitive edition. Joshi examines all aspects of Lovecraft’s life and works without whitewashing them. A must read for all fans of Lovecraft.

Lord of a Visible World: An Autobiography in Letters

By H.P. Lovecraft, Edited by S.T. Joshi and David E. Schultz (Ohio University Press). A collection of Lovecraft’s letters and essays arranged to form an autobiography.

Lovecraft At Last

By H.P. Lovecraft and Willis Conover; New Introduction by S.T. Joshi. A touching account by one of Lovecraft’s final correspondents.

Lovecraft Remembered

Edited by Peter Cannon. A collection of 65 reminiscences by those who knew Lovecraft personally.

Miscellaneous Writings

By H.P. Lovecraft (Arkham House). The final chapter of this hardback, “Personal,” includes some of Lovecraft’s autobiographical writings.