Clark Ashton Smith

Clark Ashton Smith was a selfeducated American poet, sculptor, painter and author of fantasy, horror and science fiction short stories. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Swinburne. As a poet, Smith is grouped with the West Coast Romantics alongside Ambrose Bierce, Joaquin Miller, Sterling, Nora May French, and remembered as The Last of the Great Romantics and The Bard of Auburn.

Smith was born January 13, 1893, in Long Valley, California, of English and New England parentage. He spent most of his life in the small town of Auburn, California, living in a small cabin built by his parents, Fanny and Timeus Smith. His formal education was limited he suffered from psychological disorders including a fear of crowds, and although admitted to high school after attending eight years of grammar school , he never went to high school. His parents decided it was better for him to be educated at home.

Source: Wikipedia