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Robert E. Howard: The Life and Times of a Texas Author
Robert E. Howard (1906–1936) is most widely known today as the creator of Conan the Cimmerian, more popularly referred to as Conan the Barbarian. However, he also wrote across a wide array of genres for the pulp magazines of the 1920s and 1930s, including westerns, sports stories (boxing), adventures, supernatural horror, and even humor. Howard also created many other popular characters such as King Kull, Bran Mak Morn, Solomon Kane, Steve Costigan, and Breckenridge Elkins. More importantly, he created two specific subgenres of fiction: sword and sorcery (sometimes referred to as heroic fantasy) and weird westerns.
Born and raised in Texas, Robert E. Howard began his writing career after his family settled in the small Central Texas town of Cross Plains. His first professional sale came from the pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1925, and over the next eleven years he wrote hundreds of stories and an equal number of poems. With this prolific body of stories, he was among the most lauded pulp authors of that era. It has been said, and rightly so, that the secret to his success was that there was a bit of Howard in every one of his characters, and because Howard was a Texan, even Conan shows elements of the Texan in his persona.
Robert E. Howard: The Life and Times of a Texas Author details the many trials and tribulations he faced as he became—and remained—a full-time writer while dealing with an aging father and caring for a mother who was dying of tuberculosis. The book both chronicles his personal life and demonstrates how the one driving force in Robert E. Howard’s life—forming the foundation for all of his characters and stories—was his personal pursuit of freedom. He lived for his freedom, he wrote as a means to attain that freedom, and, while it may sound strange, he also died tragically by his own hand in that very same pursuit at the young age of 30.
Born and raised in Texas, Robert E. Howard began his writing career after his family settled in the small Central Texas town of Cross Plains. His first professional sale came from the pulp magazine Weird Tales in 1925, and over the next eleven years he wrote hundreds of stories and an equal number of poems. With this prolific body of stories, he was among the most lauded pulp authors of that era. It has been said, and rightly so, that the secret to his success was that there was a bit of Howard in every one of his characters, and because Howard was a Texan, even Conan shows elements of the Texan in his persona.
Robert E. Howard: The Life and Times of a Texas Author details the many trials and tribulations he faced as he became—and remained—a full-time writer while dealing with an aging father and caring for a mother who was dying of tuberculosis. The book both chronicles his personal life and demonstrates how the one driving force in Robert E. Howard’s life—forming the foundation for all of his characters and stories—was his personal pursuit of freedom. He lived for his freedom, he wrote as a means to attain that freedom, and, while it may sound strange, he also died tragically by his own hand in that very same pursuit at the young age of 30.
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
592 pages, Hardcover
First published April 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 28, 2025
An Unparalleled Biography: Robert E. Howard: The Life and Times of a Texas Author
Having the privilege to read Robert E. Howard: The Life and Times of a Texas Author by Willard M. Oliver before its release in mid-March 2025, I am left in awe of this monumental work. This is, without question, the most comprehensive and detailed biography of Robert E. Howard ever written.
Willard M. Oliver has drawn upon years of extensive and original research to create this masterful account. While firmly grounded in his own meticulous efforts, Oliver also refers to the foundational studies of respected scholars such as Rob Roehm, Jeffrey Shanks, Patrice Louinet, Dierk Günther, Rusty Burke, Mark Finn, Robert Derie, Dennis McHaney, and Don Herron, among others. The biography is enriched by a wealth of footnotes that highlight the depth and precision of Oliver’s scholarship, ensuring that every claim is backed by reliable references.
What sets this biography apart is its extraordinary level of detail. I have never before encountered such vivid descriptions and in-depth exploration of Howard’s life. From the smallest aspects of his daily routines to the larger forces shaping his creative genius, Oliver paints a complete and deeply human portrait of the man behind some of the most enduring characters in literature.
Particularly moving are the chapters on Howard’s relationship with Novalyne Price and the exploration of his dark moods. Oliver approaches these sensitive topics with care and respect, shedding light on the complex interplay between Howard’s struggles and his incredible creative output. The epilogue is both heart-wrenching and profound, offering a poignant reflection on Howard’s legacy—it brought tears to my eyes.
This is not just a biography; it is a journey into the life and mind of Robert E. Howard. Oliver’s ability to contextualize Howard’s experiences within the broader historical, cultural, and literary frameworks makes this book an invaluable resource for longtime fans and newcomers alike. It provides a richer understanding of Howard’s world and how it shaped his legendary stories.
For anyone who seeks to truly know Robert E. Howard—not just as the creator of Conan the Cimmerian, El Borak, and Solomon Kane, but as a man—this biography is an essential read. It stands as a towering achievement in Howard scholarship and a fitting tribute to one of the 20th century’s most significant writers.
Having the privilege to read Robert E. Howard: The Life and Times of a Texas Author by Willard M. Oliver before its release in mid-March 2025, I am left in awe of this monumental work. This is, without question, the most comprehensive and detailed biography of Robert E. Howard ever written.
Willard M. Oliver has drawn upon years of extensive and original research to create this masterful account. While firmly grounded in his own meticulous efforts, Oliver also refers to the foundational studies of respected scholars such as Rob Roehm, Jeffrey Shanks, Patrice Louinet, Dierk Günther, Rusty Burke, Mark Finn, Robert Derie, Dennis McHaney, and Don Herron, among others. The biography is enriched by a wealth of footnotes that highlight the depth and precision of Oliver’s scholarship, ensuring that every claim is backed by reliable references.
What sets this biography apart is its extraordinary level of detail. I have never before encountered such vivid descriptions and in-depth exploration of Howard’s life. From the smallest aspects of his daily routines to the larger forces shaping his creative genius, Oliver paints a complete and deeply human portrait of the man behind some of the most enduring characters in literature.
Particularly moving are the chapters on Howard’s relationship with Novalyne Price and the exploration of his dark moods. Oliver approaches these sensitive topics with care and respect, shedding light on the complex interplay between Howard’s struggles and his incredible creative output. The epilogue is both heart-wrenching and profound, offering a poignant reflection on Howard’s legacy—it brought tears to my eyes.
This is not just a biography; it is a journey into the life and mind of Robert E. Howard. Oliver’s ability to contextualize Howard’s experiences within the broader historical, cultural, and literary frameworks makes this book an invaluable resource for longtime fans and newcomers alike. It provides a richer understanding of Howard’s world and how it shaped his legendary stories.
For anyone who seeks to truly know Robert E. Howard—not just as the creator of Conan the Cimmerian, El Borak, and Solomon Kane, but as a man—this biography is an essential read. It stands as a towering achievement in Howard scholarship and a fitting tribute to one of the 20th century’s most significant writers.
September 3, 2025
A must read for fans of the author. This 500 page tome is probably the most insightful look into Howard's life you will be able to find. But still, due to the complexity of his character, we are left feeling not wholly understanding of him and his untimely, tragic demise. The world, all too soon, lost the greatest pulp writer who ever lived. But his stories and legacy live on.
November 11, 2025
Full disclosure, I love Robert E. Howard's writing style. So muscular, so vivid, so eloquent! When I found out he'd died at the age of 30, by his own hand, I had to know why. This in-depth biography gave me an inkling. Many thanks to Willard M. Oliver for offering an understanding of REH's background, personality, outlook, motivation, emotions, opinions, and frustrations.
April 23, 2025
On June 11, 1936, at the age of 30, Robert E. Howard asked a nurse caring for his dying mother, whether or not she would recover. He was told no. He then proceeded to walk out of the house, past the doctors, nurses, in-home helpers and family and friends and get into his car. He pulled a gun from his glove compartment, put it to his temple and pulled the trigger. He died eight hours later without ever regaining consciousness.
Howard‘s mother had tuberculosis before he was born, and the symptoms recurred regularly. As he grew up, her relapses became more debilitating for her. In the last few years of her life, she was bedridden, and Howard and his father took her to hospitals and sanitariums repeatedly.
Robert Howard was most concerned with his own personal freedom. He worked various jobs once he finished high school and hated them all. He chose writing because he did not have a boss telling what to do.
He wrote a great deal of poetry between the ages of 18 and 20 and sold about 35 poems to Weird Tales over the years, but his poetry was rhythmical and often rhymed and was no longer popular in the years after T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland.
In 1928 at about the time his dog was dying he said to a friend that he would kill himself when his mom died
Howard’s primary source of income as a writer was Weird Tales magazine. He also wrote for a host of other pulp magazines. In total, he published about 125 stories in his eleven years as a professional author. It was hardly a living, though. Many more stories he wrote were rejected. More than half of his career was during the Great Depression. He would write a few stories, then that magazine would go under. He constantly looked for new markets.
He wrote westerns, weird westerns, boxing stories, adventure stories, historical fiction and of course, he invented sword and sorcery. He created many characters in his short life: Conan the Cimmerian, Kull of Atlantis, Solomon Kane, El Borak, Bran Mak Morn, Cormac Mac Art, Sailor Steve Costigan, Steve Harrison, Breckenridge Elkins and Red Sonya. There were many others.
In 1986, fifty years after his death, Novalyn Price published her memoir, which included much about her relationship with REH. Oliver spends some time on their relationship. They broke up at the end of the school year in May 1936. She was off to LSU to finish her college degree.
This is a wonderful book, filled with anecdotes from his childhood friends, his correspondence with E. Hoffman Price, H.P. Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith and his dream of writing a Texas history later in life.
Howard lived a grueling life, trying to make a living as a writer in a small empty Texas time in the Depression. His neighbors did not understand him; they did not know exactly what he did but type deep into the night.
Howard‘s mother had tuberculosis before he was born, and the symptoms recurred regularly. As he grew up, her relapses became more debilitating for her. In the last few years of her life, she was bedridden, and Howard and his father took her to hospitals and sanitariums repeatedly.
Robert Howard was most concerned with his own personal freedom. He worked various jobs once he finished high school and hated them all. He chose writing because he did not have a boss telling what to do.
He wrote a great deal of poetry between the ages of 18 and 20 and sold about 35 poems to Weird Tales over the years, but his poetry was rhythmical and often rhymed and was no longer popular in the years after T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland.
In 1928 at about the time his dog was dying he said to a friend that he would kill himself when his mom died
Howard’s primary source of income as a writer was Weird Tales magazine. He also wrote for a host of other pulp magazines. In total, he published about 125 stories in his eleven years as a professional author. It was hardly a living, though. Many more stories he wrote were rejected. More than half of his career was during the Great Depression. He would write a few stories, then that magazine would go under. He constantly looked for new markets.
He wrote westerns, weird westerns, boxing stories, adventure stories, historical fiction and of course, he invented sword and sorcery. He created many characters in his short life: Conan the Cimmerian, Kull of Atlantis, Solomon Kane, El Borak, Bran Mak Morn, Cormac Mac Art, Sailor Steve Costigan, Steve Harrison, Breckenridge Elkins and Red Sonya. There were many others.
In 1986, fifty years after his death, Novalyn Price published her memoir, which included much about her relationship with REH. Oliver spends some time on their relationship. They broke up at the end of the school year in May 1936. She was off to LSU to finish her college degree.
This is a wonderful book, filled with anecdotes from his childhood friends, his correspondence with E. Hoffman Price, H.P. Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith and his dream of writing a Texas history later in life.
Howard lived a grueling life, trying to make a living as a writer in a small empty Texas time in the Depression. His neighbors did not understand him; they did not know exactly what he did but type deep into the night.
July 29, 2025
This is the fourth biography I’ve read about REH. My first was Mark Finn’s “Blood and Thunder”, followed by David C. Smith’s “Robert E. Howard: A Literary Biography” and lastly, Todd B. Vick’s “Renegades and Rogues: The Life and Legacy of Robert E. Howard”. I enjoyed all four and would recommend each of these four books, without hesitation.
But I’m a rabid fan-boy. I started as a fan of Conan after seeing the 1982 movie when I was 11 years old. That left me with the desire to devour all things Conan; which I did, but I didn’t discover my love of REH as an author until I was in my 30’s when the Del Rey books were released.
Now I’m a rabid REH fan-boy.
But I’m a rabid fan-boy. I started as a fan of Conan after seeing the 1982 movie when I was 11 years old. That left me with the desire to devour all things Conan; which I did, but I didn’t discover my love of REH as an author until I was in my 30’s when the Del Rey books were released.
Now I’m a rabid REH fan-boy.
July 14, 2025
Willard M. Oliver’s Robert E. Howard: The Life and Times of a Texas Author is a meticulously researched and thoughtfully written biography that seeks not just to recount the facts of Howard’s short life, but to situate him within the cultural, historical, and psychological landscape of early 20th-century Texas. Rather than mythologizing the creator of Conan the Barbarian, Oliver attempts to demystify him—presenting a grounded, humane portrait of a writer often cast in extremes.
Dr. Oliver’s credentials as a criminologist may seem unlikely for a literary biographer, but they serve him well in this endeavor. His forensic attention to detail results in a biography that is exceptionally thorough in documenting Howard’s correspondence, publishing history, and the verifiable contours of his life. The book notably cuts through decades of speculation and apocrypha that have accumulated around Howard since his death in 1936, especially in fan circles and earlier biographical attempts. Oliver remains scrupulous in identifying when information is drawn from primary sources versus inference or hearsay, lending the work a strong sense of academic integrity.
Narratively, Oliver strikes a balance between the scholarly and the accessible. The prose is clear and methodical—occasionally dry, but always precise. This is not a romanticized or dramatized account, and readers expecting a novelistic retelling may find it reserved. Yet this restraint works in the biography’s favor, particularly when addressing delicate subjects like Howard’s mental health, his complex relationship with his mother, and the broader social dynamics of Cross Plains, Texas. Rather than relying on psychoanalysis or literary projection, Dr. Oliver allows the known facts and documented writings to guide the reader toward their own understanding.
What truly elevates the book is its historical and contextual framing. Dr. Oliver doesn’t just explain Howard’s life—he explains the world Howard lived in. From oil booms and busts to the lingering shadows of the Civil War and the cultural ruggedness of frontier towns, the Texas backdrop is rendered vividly and purposefully. This approach deepens our understanding of why Howard’s fiction—steeped in violence, exoticism, fatalism, and rebellion—resonated as it did. The book also sheds light on the pulp magazine industry and how it shaped (and sometimes warped) the ambitions of regional writers trying to break into national consciousness.
In all, Robert E. Howard: The Life and Times of a Texas Author is a valuable contribution to both literary biography and cultural history. It corrects myths, clarifies timelines, and places its subject in a broader, more meaningful frame. While the tone is more clinical than passionate, it leaves a lasting impression of a fiercely intelligent, deeply conflicted man shaped as much by his era as by his imagination. For fans, scholars, or anyone seeking to understand the origins of one of America’s most mythic literary figures, this book is essential reading.
Dr. Oliver’s credentials as a criminologist may seem unlikely for a literary biographer, but they serve him well in this endeavor. His forensic attention to detail results in a biography that is exceptionally thorough in documenting Howard’s correspondence, publishing history, and the verifiable contours of his life. The book notably cuts through decades of speculation and apocrypha that have accumulated around Howard since his death in 1936, especially in fan circles and earlier biographical attempts. Oliver remains scrupulous in identifying when information is drawn from primary sources versus inference or hearsay, lending the work a strong sense of academic integrity.
Narratively, Oliver strikes a balance between the scholarly and the accessible. The prose is clear and methodical—occasionally dry, but always precise. This is not a romanticized or dramatized account, and readers expecting a novelistic retelling may find it reserved. Yet this restraint works in the biography’s favor, particularly when addressing delicate subjects like Howard’s mental health, his complex relationship with his mother, and the broader social dynamics of Cross Plains, Texas. Rather than relying on psychoanalysis or literary projection, Dr. Oliver allows the known facts and documented writings to guide the reader toward their own understanding.
What truly elevates the book is its historical and contextual framing. Dr. Oliver doesn’t just explain Howard’s life—he explains the world Howard lived in. From oil booms and busts to the lingering shadows of the Civil War and the cultural ruggedness of frontier towns, the Texas backdrop is rendered vividly and purposefully. This approach deepens our understanding of why Howard’s fiction—steeped in violence, exoticism, fatalism, and rebellion—resonated as it did. The book also sheds light on the pulp magazine industry and how it shaped (and sometimes warped) the ambitions of regional writers trying to break into national consciousness.
In all, Robert E. Howard: The Life and Times of a Texas Author is a valuable contribution to both literary biography and cultural history. It corrects myths, clarifies timelines, and places its subject in a broader, more meaningful frame. While the tone is more clinical than passionate, it leaves a lasting impression of a fiercely intelligent, deeply conflicted man shaped as much by his era as by his imagination. For fans, scholars, or anyone seeking to understand the origins of one of America’s most mythic literary figures, this book is essential reading.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews