Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) was an American writer of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. He is best known for creating the Cthulhu Mythos, a shared universe of supernatural horror stories. Lovecraft's works were largely unknown during his lifetime, but his influence on the horror genre has been immense. His stories often feature protagonists who confront cosmic horrors beyond their understanding, and his writing style is characterized by a sense of cosmic dread and a sense of the insignificance of humanity. Lovecraft's works have been adapted into films, television shows, comics, and video games, and his influence can be seen in the works of many modern horror writers.