Arkham - Definition and Overview

Arkham is a fictional city in Massachusetts. H. P. Lovecraft set many of his stories there and Cthulhu Mythos writers have continued to feature the town in stories written since his death. Similarly, it can be a locale for action in roleplaying games based on the Mythos, such as Call of Cthulhu.

Arkham is the home of Miskatonic University, which figures prominently in many of Lovecraft's works. Its newspaper is the Advertiser

Arkham's precise location is unknown. However, it may be surmised from Lovecraft's stories that it is some distance to the north of Boston. It has been suggested by some that the real-life model for Arkham is, in fact, Salem (it's reputation for the occult making it appealing to one who dabbles in the weird tale).

Related articles

• Arkham House: a publishing company specialising in Cthulhu Mythos material
• Arkham Asylum:
  • a locale in comics occurring in the DC Comics universe, named in honour of Lovecraft's Arkham; and
  • the title of an acclaimed Batman graphic novel written by Grant Morrison and painted by Dave McKean, at one point the biggest-selling original graphic novel (as opposed to collection or trade paperback) up to that time.

See also

Other fictional settings from the stories of H. P. Lovecraft:

• Dunwich, Massachusetts
• Innsmouth, Massachusetts