Robert E. Howard
Brownwood, Brown County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(January 24, 1906-June 11, 1936) Born in Parker County, Robert Ervin Howard grew up in the Brown and Callahan County communities of Cross Cut, Cross Plains, and Brownwood. He attended Brownwood High School and Howard Payne College, and published his first works of fiction in school newspapers. He later wrote poetry and short stories for popular magazines. His main interest was in science fiction and fantasy. In 1932 he created the character Conan the Barbarian. Howard committed suicide at age 30. His Conan character has become known worldwide through books, magazines, and movies. (1991)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Raised in the small towns of Brown and Callahan counties, Robert E. Howard began publishing fiction while still in school and went on to write poetry and pulp stories for popular magazines. In 1932 he created Conan the Barbarian, virtually inventing the sword-and-sorcery genre before his death by suicide at just thirty. Through books, magazines, and movies, his Conan has since become a worldwide cultural figure.
Why it matters
Howard is a founding voice of American pulp and fantasy fiction, showing how a young writer in rural Texas could shape a genre now known around the globe.
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Related people
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Themes & tags
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