H.P. Lovecraft - The story is "The alchemist" btw

The Alchemist is a great example of how Lovecraft's writing style makes a patently absurd premise compelling.

PS: Charles le Sorcier is over 400 by the time the actual plot happens.

Lovecraft just woke up one morning and said 'I hate foreigners and am allergic to seafood; and I am SO GODDAMN TALENTED I'm going to write stories ultimately about only that which will inspire an entire genre and a century long dedicated fandom.'