Charles Dexter Ward is a fictional character created by H. P. Lovecraft, the title character of his novel The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.
Overview[]
Ward is a young man from a prominent Rhode Island family, born in 1902--making him 26 in 1928, when the story takes place. He develops an obsession with his great-great-great-grandfather, Joseph Curwen, a reputed wizard who is Ward's physical double. Ward searches for his ancestor's grave and attempts to duplicate his Qabalistic and alchemical feats. He eventually uses this knowledge to physically resurrect Curwen.
Behind the Mythos[]
Though considered one of Lovecraft's autobiographical characters, some details of the character seem to be based on William Lippitt Mauran, who lived in the Halsey house and, like Ward, was "wheeled...in a carriage" in front of it. Like the Wards, the Maurans also owned a farmhouse in Pawtuxet, Rhode Island. (EXP: An H. P. Lovecraft Encyclopedia)
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