Dagon (2003)

I am glad your friend likes Dagon—which was written in 1917, & is the second story I wrote that year, after a nine years' silence. In 1908, when I was 18, I was disgusted by my lack of technical experience; & burned all my stories (of which the number was infinite) but two; resolving (amusing thought!) to turn to verse in the future. Then, years later, I published these yarns in an amateur paper; where they were so well received that I began to consider resumption. Finally an amateur editor & critic named W. Paul Cook (Loveman can tell you about him) egged me on to the point of actual production, & The Tomb-- with all its stiffness—was the result. Next came Dagon--& it chagrins me to admit that I've hardly been able to equal it since.

_H.P. Lovecraft, carta a Clark Ashton Smith del 11 de enero de 1923.