The Slayer of Souls

Robert William Chambers (1865-1933) was an American artist and writer. He entered the Art Students League at around the age of twenty, studied at the École des Beaux- Arts, and at Académie Julian, in Paris. On his return to New York, he succeeded in selling his illustrations to Life, Truth, and Vogue magazines. Then, for reasons unclear, he devoted his time to writing, producing his first novel, In the Quarter in 1894. His most famous, and perhaps most meritorious effort is The King in Yellow (1895), a collection of weird fiction short stories, connected by the theme of a book (to which the title refers) which drives those who read it insane. According to some estimates, Chambers was one of the most successful literary careers of his period, his later novels selling well and a handful achieving bestseller status. Other works include: The Maid-At-Arms (1902), In Search of the Unknown (1904), The Fighting Chance (1906), The Firing Line (1908), The Danger Mark (1909), The Green Mouse (1910), Ailsa Paige (1910), The Common Law (1911), Between Friends (1914), The Hidden Children (1914) and In Secret (1919).