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

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
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