Clark Ashton Smith papers (Ms.79.3)

Biographical/Historical Note

Clark Ashton Smith was born in Auburn, California and spent most of his life there. Wholly self-educated, he earned his living not by writing, but primarily as an unskilled laborer, working as a fruit picker or at whatever other odd jobs he could secure. Except for his writing, his life was uneventful. He died in his sleep at the age of 68.

• 1893 - Born in Auburn, California, on January 13.
• 1904 - Begins the writing of poetry.
• 1905 - Begins the writing of fiction.
• 1911 - Begins correspondence with George Sterling.
• 1912 - The Star-Treader and Other Poems, published this year, throws Smith into immediate fame.
• 1918 - Published Odes and Sonnets. Introduction by George Sterling.
• 1922 - Ebony and Crystal: Poems in Verse and Prose. H.P. Lovecraft begins corresponding with Smith after receipt of this volume from Samuel Loveman.
• 1925 - Sandalwood (poems).
• 1929 - Begins writing fiction extensively for Weird Tales, Wonder Stories and other pulp magazines.
• 1931 - Begins correspondence with August Derleth and is later published by Derleth's firm, Arkham House.
• 1933 - The Double Shadow and Other Fantasies. First collection of fiction.
• 1935 - Death of Smith's mother.
• 1936 - Death of Smith's father.
• 1937 - Nero and Other Poems, poems selected and revised from The Star-Treader.
• 1942 - Out of Space and Time (fiction).
• 1944 - Lost Worlds (fiction).
• 1948 - Genius Loci and Other Tales.
• 1951 - The Dark Chateau and Other Poems.
• 1954 - Marries Carol Jones Dorman after a brief romance.
• 1957 - Fire in Smith's cabin burns many manuscripts.
• 1958 - Spells and Philtres (poems).
• 1960 - The Abomination of Yondo (fiction).
• 1961 - Death of Smith in August.
• 1962 - The Hill of Dionysus (poems).
• 1964 - Poems in Prose. Edited by Donald Sydney Fryer.
• 1965 - Tales of Science and Sorcery.
• 1970 - Other Dimensions (fiction).
• 1971 - Selected Poems.