---

Despite the radio silence on my part and this website, scholarship on Sonia has not wavered. In this special post, I wanted to highlight an article recently published in The Fossil, and newly discovered newspaper clippings, all of which adds another layer to the portrait of Sonia. Additionally, I’ll conclude the post with an update on An Ardent Recruit.

The Horror at Martin’s Beach

One evening while walking along this esplanade—the full moon reflecting its light in the water, a peculiar and unusual noise heard at a distance as of a loud snorting and grunting, the shimmering light forming a moon-path on the water, the round tops of the submerged piles in the water exposed a rope connecting them like a huge spider’s web—gave the vivid imagination full play for an interesting, weird tale.

Two Hearts That Beat as One, Sonia H. Davis, p. 99.

The object was some fifty feet in length, of roughly cylindrical shape, and about ten feet in diameter. It was unmistakably a gilled fish in its major affiliations; but with certain curious modifications, such as rudimentary forelegs and six-toed feet in place of pectorial fins, which prompted the widest speculation. Its extraordinary mouth, its thick and scaly hide, and its single, deep-set eye were wonders scarcely less remarkable than its colossal dimensions…

“The Invisible Monster”, Sonia H. Greene, H.P. Lovecraft, Something About Cats and Other Pieces, 1949, pp. 19–20.

The invisible monster in “The Horror at Martin’s Beach” has rarely been dissected in terms of scholarship. Even Sonia, when describing the night which inspired the story, failed to reveal what animal had caused the loud snorting and grunting sounds. “Sonia Greene and the Cape Ann Sea Serpent” by David Goudsward is the answer to the mystery. Despite the short length, the article fantastically compares and contrasts the Invisible Monster to the Cape Ann Sea Serpent. Not wishing to give too much away though, I believe the story needed this  kind of analysis for some time, and with David’s knowledge in cryptozoology, the article brings a fresh perspective to “The Horror at Martin’s Beach”.

“Sonia Greene and the Cape Ann Sea Serpent” was published in The Fossil and can be read here: Volume 121, No. 3, Whole No. 403.

Newspaper Clippings

The newspaper was to Sonia, and to others of her time, what social media is to us. The newspaper was not only a platform for breaking news and/or information about current events, but it was also a space where the locals could announce or advertise to others. It was through newspaper clippings that we were able to learn what really happened between Racille and Solomon Moseson. [Rachel Moseson]. It’s the same way we’re getting to know Sonia as well, beyond the confines of her marriage to H.P. Lovecraft. There are periods in Sonia’s life that are still unaccounted for, much of which she remained silent about in her autobiographical writings.

The following clippings shed insight on Sonia in 1930 after her divorce from Lovecraft, and in 1935, when she was then living in California. A huge thank you to Bobby Derie for finding the clippings and sharing them with me.

Transcript:

“HAND PAINTED CARDS for all occasions. Sonia Greene, 368 E. 17th St. Flatbush 5632.” Brooklyn Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, Fri, Apr 25, 1930, page 29. [Newspaper.com]

Transcript:

Noisy, Needless ‘Extras’

“From time to time the streets of the Ditmas Park section are aroused late at night or just before midday on Sundays with “Extras” hawked by newsmen that are neither important nor interesting enough to warrant such nerve-wracking alarm at a time when the neighborhood is entitled to peace and quiet.

At 11 o’clock Sunday morning newsmen for another paper were shouting the “Extra” that I had already read both in the Times and the Brooklyn Eagle at a much earlier hour.

Cannot some measure be taken to check this needless attack by newsmen upon peaceful, quiet neighborhoods? Besides alarming the neighborhood needlessly it is an imposition that obtains money under false pretenses. I trust it can be curbed in the future.” Sonia H. Greene, Brooklyn Eagle, Brooklyn, New York, Wed, Jun 25, 1930, page 18. [Newspaper.com]

Transcript:

“MILLINERY—Hats of the highest grade imported, velour soleil, velvet or French felt, made to fit your head; copied after original models; also your own hats cleaned, blocked and remodeled equal to new at very reasonable prices, Sonia Greene, 809 Ocean ave., near Cortelyou rd. Flatbush 5632, Apt. 1-D” The Brooklyn Citizen, Brooklyn, New York, Sat, Oct 11, 1930, page 9. [Newspaper.com]

Transcript:

“The current events class of the Redondo Union Evening high school is to hear a talk on “National Progress” by Mrs. Sonia H. Greene, of the Utopian’s speakers bureau, in the library, tonight at 7 o’clock.

Everyone is cordially invited to attend this class, which is instructed by Miss Alma Squires. Many speakers have enlightened the students on current economical problems during the past semester. Mrs. Greene is one of the outstanding speakers of the Utopian society and consequently is expected to bring a message of vital importance to everyone.” The Daily Breeze, Torrance, California, Thu, Apr 25, 1935, page 2. [Newspaper.com]

An Ardent Recruit

With Two Hearts That Beat as One now being in the wild, the natural course was to begin the next book, An Ardent Recruit. An Ardent Recruit focuses on Sonia’s contributions to amateur journalism. Seven months into the writing process, I wish I was further along in the manuscript than where I’m at currently. However, the journey has been interesting, especially as materials emerge along the way, bringing more depth to the overall progress. The following image is the table of contents for the book, and while some of the chapter titles may be subjected to change, the order in which the information will be presented will remain the same.

I’m wrapping up Chapter 1.2, taking on additional reading to supply extra particulars to the chapter. I would like to clarify, though, An Ardent Recruit will not give an in-depth history on amateur journalism. I’m providing a bare-bones summary to give context. By understanding some key historical moments of amateur journalism, we can then understand the struggles of what Sonia dealt with as a participant in publishing her journal and later as president.

An Ardent Recruit is still very much in its infancy stage, but once the bulk of the historical context is written, the rest of the writing should be relatively easy. I will certainly post an update on the next milestone.

Although 2025 is halfway over, considerable progress has been made for Sonia this year. As much as I try to give Sonia some renown of her own outside of her association with Lovecraft, it’s through that very relationship which has kept her from falling into complete obscurity. As long as there’s interest in Lovecraft, so will there be for Sonia.