He was born in Peaster, Texas, the son of a doctor, and grew up in Cross Plains. He began writing professionally aged fifteen, but was not published until "Spear and Fang" appeared in the July 1925 edition of Weird Tales, he had his first 'cover' in 1926.
He wrote stories in many genres, but his most famous creation is the giant barbarian warrior Conan, first appearing in "The Phoenix on the Sword" in December 1932. His other characters include the Atlantean King Kull, the Puritan adventurer Solomon Kane, the Pict Bran Mak Morn and the female warrior Red Sonja.
Howard's prose is straightforward, colorful, and exciting rather than subtle and literary, attempting to entertain rather than instruct. Howard tells of worlds where violence is usually the best solution to problems, and where gold, jewels, and beautiful women are often the hero's reward.
