"The Case of Charles Dexter Ward" by H. P. Lovecraft is a horror novel written in early 1927. When young Charles Dexter Ward becomes obsessed with his ancestor Joseph Curwen, an alleged eighteenth-century wizard and necromancer, he uncovers dark secrets that lead to his institutionalization. Ward's doctor investigates disturbing physiological changes in his patient, discovering ancient documents, forbidden resurrection rituals, and a vast underground lair. As the investigation deepens, the line between past and present blurs, revealing a conspiracy that threatens mankind itself.