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ENThe call ofCthulhuH. P. Lovecraft

The call of Cthulhu

by H. P. Lovecraft

About The call of Cthulhu

The call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft is a medium read in English (horror, fantasy). It takes about 1 h at 200 words per minute, a comfortable pace for language learners. The book is in the public domain and comes from Project Gutenberg.

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Main characters in The call of Cthulhu

Engraving-style illustration of a sailor on a storm-tossed ship looking up at a huge winged, tentacled creature rising from a ruined island in the dark sea.
AI-generated illustration

Francis Thurston, going through his dead great-uncle's papers, discovers a clue about a worldwide cult that worships a monstrous being called Cthulhu. Linking a sculptor's dreams, a police raid and a sailor's account of an island that rose from the sea, he concludes that humanity is not alone and not safe.

  • Francis Wayland Thurston

    The narrator, who pieces the evidence together.

  • Professor George Gammell Angell

    Thurston's great-uncle, a scholar whose notes start the investigation.

  • Henry Anthony Wilcox

    A young sculptor who has nightmares about a strange city.

  • Inspector John Raymond Legrasse

    The police officer who raids a cult gathering in the swamps of Louisiana.

  • Gustaf Johansen

    A Norwegian sailor whose manuscript describes meeting Cthulhu.

  • Cthulhu

    The monstrous ancient being that sleeps beneath the ocean.

Questions about The call of Cthulhu

How many words are in The call of Cthulhu?
The call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft has about 12,000 words. At 200 words per minute, a comfortable pace for language learners, it takes about 1 h to read.
Who are the main characters in The call of Cthulhu?
The main characters are Francis Wayland Thurston, Professor George Gammell Angell, Henry Anthony Wilcox, Inspector John Raymond Legrasse, Gustaf Johansen and Cthulhu.
Can I read The call of Cthulhu for free?
Yes. The call of Cthulhu is in the public domain, and you can read it free in English on PolyglotReader with inline translation, word lookup and audio.

The call of Cthulhu is more than a book: it is a language-learning tool

Most people learn a language from lessons and word lists that have nothing to do with what they enjoy. Here you learn from a real story. You read The call of Cthulhu in English, and every step that helps you understand and remember it is one tap away. The words you meet in the book are the words you practise.

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  • My Dictionary

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Play word games with The call of Cthulhu

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