The centuries-old murder of a dark wizard resulted in a vow of revenge upon all the descendants of those responsible, condemning them to death at the age of 32. After the curse takes its toll, only Count Antoine de C remains, together with his servant and guardian, Pierre. With his thirty-second year fast approaching and the recent death of Pierre, Antione begins exploring the many ruined parts of the castle alone, eventually coming across a mysterious passage that leads to the true cause behind the untimely deaths of his ancestors. Written when Lovecraft was in his late teens, "The Alchemist" is among the first works that he ever published. A classic horror story with a centuries-old curse at its centre, this book is highly recommended for fans of horror fiction and is not to be missed by lovers of Lovecraftian literature. 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. Other notable works by this author include: "At the Mountains of Madness", "The Rats in the Walls", and "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". Read & Co. is publishing this classic short story now as part of our "Fantasy and Horror Classics" imprint in a new edition with a dedication by George Henry Weiss.