洛夫克拉夫特本人不喜歡這篇小說,也沒打算出版它[6]。但後世對它好評不斷,美國作家雷·丹尼爾斯(Les Daniels)說這是洛夫克拉夫特最好的作品[7]。美國學者E·F·布莱勒(E. F. Bleiler)說:“儘管它有點套路,但仍有不少好點子和好段子”[8]。
參考文獻
^H. P. Lovecraft, letter to Lillian D. Clark, August 24, 1925; cited in S. T. Joshi and David E. Schultz, "Case of Charles Dexter Ward, The", An H. P. Lovecraft Encyclopedia, p. 33.
^H. P. Lovecraft, letter to R. H. Barlow, March 19, 1934; cited in Joshi and Schultz, p. 34.
^Les Daniels (1975). Living in Fear: A History of Horror in the Mass Media. Da Capo Press, P. 121. ISBN0306801930 .
^E. F. Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction, Kent State University Press, 1983 (p.322-23). cite: despite its being strangely tired and routine, has interesting concepts and good moments