Article: The King in Yellow - How to Write a Play that Drives Men Mad
Abstract:
The King in Yellow by Robert Chambers has a small but enthusiastic following in the community of individuals who appreciate the history of Weird Fiction. The singular feature that ties this collection of stories together is the reference to a theatrical manuscript each story makes. That manuscript being titled “The King in Yellow.” The manuscript is said to drive those who read it into insanity. However, it never quite explains how. The manuscript disappears from the short stories about half way through the volume. We explore how these two features – the insanity caused by the play, and its vanishing from the stories – may relate to one another.
Keywords: Carcosa, Hastur
