Harold Robins
"The only thing of value on this earth is that each of us is an individual and not a cog in a machine. No man is better than another because of circumstance or fortune, but each important to his own."
Harold Robbins is one of the most popular writers of all time, with more than 25 best-selling novels to his name. His novels were often scandalous – especially for the time – featuring violent plotlines, scandals, sex, and dramatic tales of high society. His most well-known novel was arguably The Carpetbaggers, which delves into the world of the aviation industry in Hollywood.
His work was hugely popular, and he sold more than 750 million books in his lifetime, including translations of his works in more than 30 languages.
Meet Harold Robbins
Harold Robbins was born in New York in 1916. While he would at some point tell people he was a Jewish orphan raised in a Catholic’s boys home, he was in fact raised by his father and step-mother in Brooklyn.
In fact, Harold wasn’t shy about telling tall tales. He joined the US Navy as a teenager, and claimed to have been the sole survivor of a torpedo attack on a submarine – another fabricated story. He did work in an array of jobs throughout his life, including 17 years working for Universal Pictures. His time here no doubt inspired his novels about Hollywood and the film industry.
His first release was Never Love a Stranger in 1948, which he followed with The Dream Merchants a year later. A Stone for Danny Fisher became a fast fan favourite, and was adapted for film in 1958 and starred Elvis Presley. Several others of his works, including The Carpetbaggers, Where Love Has Gone, and The Adventurers were all also made into movies.
Throughout his lifetime, he was known as something of a playboy. He earned a lot through his books and spent just as much, marrying three times and spending many years enjoying the French Riviera and Monte Carlo. His influence has led to countless mentions in pop culture over the years, as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
After Robbins passed away at the age of 81, there were several books published post-humously in his name including Never Enough and The Predators. It remains unclear whether these were based off his drafts or notes, or were entirely fabricated by ghostwriters.