About the author
Abdul Alhazred is not a historical author but the fictional 'Mad Arab' invented by H. P. Lovecraft as the supposed writer of the Necronomicon, the forbidden book that recurs throughout Lovecraft's horror fiction. The two titles catalogued here, Al Azif: The Original Cipher Manuscript and Al Azif: The Necronomicon, are modern publications that present themselves as translations or reconstructions of that invented grimoire, extending the literary hoax into standalone books for readers of horror and occult fiction. They belong to the tradition of Necronomicon spin-off texts that has grown up around Lovecraft's mythos, mixing invented ritual material with the atmosphere of cosmic horror. These books are best approached as fiction and fan-created grimoire material rather than as historical occult texts, and will appeal to readers drawn to Lovecraftian horror and constructed mythologies rather than to practitioners of an actual tradition.
📖 Where to start with Abdul Alhazred
💬 What our editors say about Abdul Alhazred's books
“Esoterica Books presents this Borgo Press edition as a focused study in arcane ritual systems. The text excels at detailing traditional ceremonies for those committed to deep spiritualism. It maintains a strict focus on the…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Al Azif: The Necronomicon Alhazred, Abdul
“This edition attempts to capitalize on the enduring mystery of the Necronomicon by presenting itself as a genuine cipher manuscript. While it succeeds in evoking the atmosphere of desolate sands and cosmic dread, readers seeking…”
Esoterica Books editorial team, Occult literature desk · on Al Azif: The Original Cipher Manuscript: (The Original Necronomicon)
