ABOUT
LIFE
Robert Ervin Howard (January 22nd, 1906 - June 11,
1936) was an American author mainly writing pulp fiction,
although his works span throughout many different genres. Some
of his works are a part of the Cthulhu mythos
. He is
well-known for creating the character of Conan the Barbarian and
starting the subgenre of Sword and sorcery fantasy.
THE LOVECRAFTIAN CIRCLE
in August of 1930 he wrote to Weird Tales
giving praise
to H.P Lovecraft's
The Rats in the Walls
. The letter got forwarded to the
author himself wich started a correspondence between those two,
which in later years turned into a friendship.
Robert E. Howard joined the Lovecraft Circle
a group of
friends and authors connected via correspondence with Lovecraft.
The father of Lovecraftian Horror encouraged all of the authors
to connect with eachother and share their stories. Thanks to
this works of those authors shared themes, some characteristics
and themes. Some of the works of Howard are:
The Black Stone
, The Cairn on the Headland
and
The Children of the Night
.
THE GREAT DEPRESSION
In the early 1932 Howard started developing his style of Sword and sorcery as well as the character of the Conan the Barbarian.
Howard continued to work on his new genre set in the
Hyborian age
the age of barbarism, and the stories of
Conan the Barbarian, the world shares some of the Lovecraftian
elements and themes.
In 1933 Howard wrote on of the first stories in the genre of Weird Western connecting fantasy, horror and what he would focus on writing later - western.
CREATIONS
THE BLACK STONE
Are you curious what is hidden in the book
The Nameless Cults
? What's the story of
Stregoicavar? Follow the curious narrator and find out.
THE CAIRN ON THE HEADLAND
Cthulhu mythos mixed with Norse Mythology and Christianity. This book is an historical adventure story following James O'Brien and his encounter with the unknown.
THE CHILDREN OF THE NIGHT
Lovecraftian horror - are you curious who the titled children are? This story is linked to other of Howard's creations so make sure that you know what you are getting into!
END OF HIS LIFE
Author dedicated the rest of his life to the Wester fiction, decline in his mental health was getting more evident, financial problems and his mother suffering from tuberculosis was nearing death has made it impossible for Howard to proceed writing.
When he learned that his mother would not wake up from her coma he decided that it was the time to commit his planned before suicide. He died on June 12th 1936 from a gunshot wound in his head.