H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937) is a writer characterized for his mixture of
genres –what is known as the weird tale– that borrows influences from gothic fiction,
fantasy, horror and science fiction. This amalgam of styles and genres results in the
unusual apparition of classical horror figures (vampires, zombies, ghosts) that are
filtered through a very original view. It is the goal of this chapter to analyze how
Lovecraft dealt with ghostly presences in his tales. Through the review of theoretical
approaches to ghosts and specters, I will focus my attention on two texts, “Cool
Air” and The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, in order to unravel the connections that
seemingly detached characters might have with the classical gothic ghost.