Von Junzt, Friedrich

(1795-1840) A German eccentric who lived curiously and died in a grisly and mysterious fashion. He spent his entire life delving into forbidden subjects. He traveled to all parts of the world, gained entrance to innumerable secret societies, and studied many rare books and manuscripts on the esoteric. He is best known as the author of the infamous Unaussprechlichen Kulten or Nameless Cults, which was first published in Dusseldorf a year before his death. [REH Black (online text); HPL Aeons (online text)]

At some point in his life, Von Junzt visited Honduras and evidently saw the Temple of the Toad, of which he later wrote in Nameless Cults. [REH Roof (online text)]

Six months before his death, Von Junzt returned from a mysterious visit to Mongolia. In the ensuing months, Von Junzt worked unceasingly on a new manuscript. Then Von Junzt was found dead in mysterious circumstances, strangled in his locked and bolted chamber. The marks of taloned fingers were on his throat. The torn pages of his manuscript were scattered about him on the floor of the room. Von Junzt's best friend, the Frenchman Alexis Ladeau, spent a night piecing the manuscript fragments together. After reading what was written, Ladeau burned the pages to ashes and slit his own throat with a razor. [REH Black (online text); Roof (online text) ]

John Conrad and his friends discussed Von Junzt's theories about the survival of ancient cults such as the Bran cult. Taverel was convinced that Von Junzt was mad. [REH Children (online text)]

Von Junzt's first is given as Friedrich in at least two of HPL's letters. [Selected Letters 1934-1937, ed. August Derleth and James Turner, Sauk City, Wisconsin, Arkham House Publishers, Inc., 1976. Letter 717, to William Frederick Anger, p. 16; Letter 780, to Robert Bloch, p. 156.]

HH Guardian: The tiny man mentioned Von Junzt's book.

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