The Shunned House
On Benefit Street in Providence stands a house where, for a century and a half, tenants have sickened and died, speaking French in their delirium though they knew none, while a pale fungus grows in the cellar and a human shape seems outlined in the mold on its floor. The narrator and his uncle, an elderly doctor and antiquarian, trace the house's history through the records of Rhode Island back to a family of Huguenot refugees, and then decide to spend a night in the cellar with a flamethrower and a Crookes tube. Lovecraft wrote the story in 1924 and based the house on a real one; it was his first weird tale set in his native city. The ending is one of his most physical. Read it online in your browser on Vinteuil; the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Shunned House
The Shunned House by H. P. Lovecraft can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Shunned House online?
Yes. The Shunned House opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Shunned House free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Shunned House is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Shunned House in the public domain?
Yes. The Shunned House by H. P. Lovecraft is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Shunned House?
About 44 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Shunned House?
The Shunned House by H. P. Lovecraft is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
