Irvin S. Cobb tales

[Lobolover]

Though ive only been able to find "Fishead",I stil think the man had talent.

To note:the other story HPL mentioned in Supernatural Horror as being about the guy reminescenting of the death of his african ancestor
is called "The unbroken chain" .

[j. d. worthington]

"The Unbroken Chain", incidentally, is currently available in Lovecraft Studies #44, and was also included in Cobb's collection On an Island that Cost $24.00.

J. Vernon Shea remarked that Cobb's few essays into the horrific vein deserved a resurrection. While his attitudes would certainly not be to the current taste, his laconic, wry storytelling is certainly something worth giving a try....

[Lobolover]

Hmm.Whats "Lovcraft studies"?

He did MORE then the two horror stories?

And how did you like Fishead?

[j. d. worthington]

I quite like "Fishhead", myself. Oh, it has racist elements, yes; but one has more than a little sympathy for the titular character, and Cobb's use of satire in the text makes such commentary a good deal broader than its ostensible target would indicate....

As I recall, yes; but darned if I can remember titles at the moment....

[Lobolover]

The escape of Mr. Trimm,which included Fishead had theese others:

The escape of Mr. Trimm -- The belled buzzard -- An occurrence up a side street -- Another of those cub reporter stories -- Smoke of battle -- The exit of Anse Dugmore -- To the editor of the Sun --- Guilty as charged.

(found at http://www.gutenberg.org/files/24799/24799-8.txt)

So you think The chain could technicaly be in the public domain (the man HAS been dead for 64 years) SOMEWHERE?Cause "On an Island that Cost $24.00" seems to be out of print.

Also,what was rascist on "Fishead"?

[j. d. worthington]

Not sure whether it is or not, though it is likely enough. This doesn't, however, mean that it's available online.

As for the racist elements in "Fishhead"... free use of racial epithets without any tone of censure editorially (given that there is a good deal of editorializing in the story generally), an obviously "unreconstructed" Southern sensibility where blacks were concerned, the view of "Fishhead" as something subhuman, etc., etc., etc.

Incidentally, given HPL's views on blacks, these were likely to be things he found added to, rather than detracted from, the tale....

[Lobolover]

Well,seeing as what Fishead was hinted to be,a "non-human" characterisation would be at place.I mean,its like if you were in the room where the Professor made the experiment with the son of the mad hill-side girl in "Novel of the
black seal" and saw what it became and stil called it human.

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Lobolover

Well,seeing as what Fishead was hinted to be,a "non-human" characterisation would be at place.I mean,its like if you were in the room where the Professor made the experiment with the son of the mad hill-side girl in "Novel of the
black seal" and saw what it became and stil called it human.

In both cases, it's very revealing of a prejudices on the part of the particular writers, given how these are handled....

[Lobolover]

Well,if youd see something so horridly inhuman,youd be bound to feel disgust.

But I DID feel sympathethic for Fishead.I never take the human side of the argument.