Robert E. Howard (1906–1936) was an American pulp writer best known as the creator of Conan the Barbarian, a character that helped define the sword-and-sorcery genre. Writing primarily in the 1920s and 1930s, Howard published extensively in pulp magazines like Weird Tales, producing not only fantasy but also horror, historical adventure, and boxing stories with a raw, muscular prose style. Deeply influenced by history, myth, and his experiences growing up in small-town Texas, Howard’s work often explored themes of civilization versus barbarism, fate, and personal strength. Though his life was tragically short—ending in suicide at age 30—his legacy has only grown, inspiring countless novels, comics, films, and games, and cementing him as one of the most influential figures in modern fantasy literature.

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