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Harold Robbins

Harold Robbins (May 21, 1916 – October 14, 1997) was an American novelist renowned for his commercially successful works of popular fiction, characterized by sensational themes of , ambition, , and , which sold more than 750 million copies worldwide in 42 languages. Born Harold Rubin in to a middle-class Jewish family—his mother died shortly after his birth—Robbins was raised by his father, a , in . After graduating from George Washington High School in 1934, he held various jobs, including delivery boy and shipping clerk, before making and losing a fortune speculating in sugar futures during . In 1940, he joined as a mailroom clerk, rising rapidly to executive director of budget and planning by 1942, where he gained insider knowledge of that would inform his writing. Robbins published his debut novel, the semi-autobiographical Never Love a Stranger (1948), which faced challenges but established his racy style; it was followed by successes like A Stone for Danny Fisher (1952) and his breakthrough (1961), a thinly veiled portrait of that became a massive and was adapted into a . Over his career, he authored more than 20 s, including The Dream Merchants (1949) and Tycoon (1996), often writing 30 to 40 pages a day without revisions in a formulaic, plot-driven manner that prioritized over literary depth. Many of his books were adapted into films and television productions, contributing to his status as a pioneer of the "airport novel" , though critics dismissed his work as brimming with gossip and excess. In his , Robbins was married six times, his final to Jann Stapp in 1992; he lived extravagantly in Beverly Hills and on the , indulging in , drugs, and multiple affairs that produced two daughters. A 1982 left him with and mobility issues, yet he continued writing with assistance until his death from in , at age 81. Robbins' legacy endures as that of a shrewd entertainer who transformed personal fabrications and industry observations into a blueprint for blockbuster fiction, influencing generations of commercial authors.

Biography

Early life

Harold Robbins was born Harold Rubin on May 21, 1916, in , to a middle-class Jewish family. His mother, Frances "Fannie" Smith, died shortly after his birth, and he was raised by his father, Charles Rubin, a , and his stepmother, Blanche, in with three half-siblings. Robbins later fabricated elements of his early life, claiming to have been an orphan named Francis Kane abandoned at a Roman Catholic orphanage in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, a story that influenced his semi-autobiographical writing. Robbins attended George Washington High School, graduating in 1934. After graduation, he worked a variety of jobs in New York City, gaining exposure to urban life during the .

Career

In the late 1930s, Robbins worked in the , including as an inventory clerk. He claimed to have amassed and lost a fortune through crop speculation, but this remains unverified. In 1940, Robbins joined as a shipping clerk in the company's New York warehouse. He advanced quickly, becoming director of budget and planning in the early after relocating to , and later director of production, overseeing operations during . He avoided military service due to a claimed back injury. While at Universal, Robbins began writing, prompted by a bet with an executive to produce a better novel than one the studio had optioned. This resulted in his debut semi-autobiographical , Never Love a Stranger (1948), published by , which drew controversy for its explicit content but achieved commercial success. He remained at until 1957, when he was fired for absenteeism, after which he focused on writing full-time. His second , The Dream Merchants (1949), portrayed the film industry and was later adapted into a 1980 television miniseries.

Personal life

Marriages and relationships

Harold Robbins had a complex marked by multiple marriages, with accounts varying on the exact number (from three to six total). He was married to Muriel Ling in ; she died in 1937. Robbins later wed Lillian Machnivitz, his high school sweetheart, though the marriage ended in with no children. In 1965, he married Grace , an advertising , in what became his longest union, lasting until their in 1992 after 27 years; the couple adopted two daughters, Caryn and Adreana. Palermo later detailed their relationship in her 2013 Cinderella and the Carpetbagger, describing an "open marriage" in which Robbins engaged in extramarital affairs, often justified as research for his novels, involving women from Beverly Hills socialites to ; she noted these encounters were "meaningless" to him but contributed to the marriage's strains. Following his divorce from Palermo in 1992, Robbins married Jann Stapp, a former public-relations agent and his assistant, on that year, vowing it would be his final ; they remained together until his in 1997. These multiple divorces involved significant financial settlements, exacerbating the challenges of managing his substantial wealth amid a lifestyle of extravagant spending. Robbins' relationships immersed him in Hollywood's glamorous social circle, where he hosted lavish parties and yacht cruises attended by film stars, European jet-setters, and other elites, mirroring the opulent settings of his novels. His family life, centered around his daughters from the marriage to , was influenced by frequent relocations and his career focus, though specific details on interpersonal dynamics remain limited in public records.

Health issues and death

In the 1960s and 1970s, Robbins became embroiled in the excesses of Hollywood's social scene, which contributed to the onset of his drug abuse, including heavy use of and prescription medications that led to . His lifestyle of extravagant parties and high-stakes exacerbated these issues, straining both his finances and physical well-being. Robbins suffered a severe in 1982, which resulted in —a partial impairment of speech and language comprehension—that significantly hindered his ability to write independently. This condition forced him to rely on dictation and ghostwriters for his subsequent works, though he continued to plots and provide creative . Following the stroke, Robbins experienced a marked decline in health, marked by multiple falls that necessitated surgeries, including procedures to repair crushed and fractured hips sustained in a 1985 bathroom accident. Complications from these operations, such as nerve damage and failed hip implants, confined him to a and contributed to ongoing mobility issues; he spent his final years in recovery at his home in . Robbins died on October 14, 1997, at the age of 81, from respiratory at Desert Hospital in Palm Springs, with his wife, Jann, by his side. His funeral was attended by family members and several figures from the and industries, and he was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in . After his death, the management of Robbins's estate involved the continued publication of novels under his name, often completed by ghostwriters using his unfinished drafts and outlines, such as works by collaborator Junius Podrug; this led to some contention regarding the authenticity and rights to these posthumous releases.

Literary works

Writing style and themes

Harold Robbins' writing style was characterized by fast-paced, plot-driven narratives that blended , explicit sex, and violence, drawing inspiration from and traditions. His emphasized heavy use of and cliffhangers to maintain momentum, often creating sweeping sagas with arrogant, ambitious characters navigating high-stakes conflicts. This approach, self-described by Robbins as writing in "plain English," prioritized accessibility and to captivate mass audiences. Recurring themes in Robbins' works included the rags-to-riches trajectory, frequently laced with betrayal and moral ambiguity, as protagonists rose through corruption in industries like , business, and . His stories often explored sexual liberation and power dynamics, portraying anti-hero figures whose pursuits critiqued the darker underbelly of the , marked by greed, intrigue, and ethical compromise. These motifs reflected a fascination with excess, where ambition intertwined with personal downfall. Robbins pioneered the "airport novel" or fiction in the and , delivering sensational tales that appealed to popular tastes but elicited scorn from literary critics for their perceived vulgarity and formulaic excess. His innovation lay in packaging pulp elements into expansive, commercially viable epics, influencing the mass-market boom. Autobiographical elements permeated his narratives, incorporating experiences from his orphanhood, Hollywood dealings, and gambling habits into character arcs that mirrored his own tumultuous path to success. Over time, Robbins' style evolved from the raw, confessional realism of his early novels, akin to the Chicago school of , to a more picaresque structure in mid-career works like , and finally to a terse, Hemingway-influenced mode in later books, shaped by health issues and demands for prolific output. This progression resulted in increasingly formulaic plots, prioritizing commercial reliability over initial innovation.

Major novels and publications

Harold Robbins published his debut novel, Never Love a Stranger, in 1948, a semi-autobiographical story following a young man's rise from New York's underworld to success. This work marked the beginning of his prolific career, blending elements of his own experiences in Hell's Kitchen with dramatic narratives of ambition and . His breakthrough came with early bestsellers like The Dream Merchants in 1949, which chronicles the cutthroat world of 's founding pioneers and their pursuit of fame. Another major success was in 1961, an expansive saga spanning aviation, , and high-stakes business rivalries, which became one of his most enduring titles with reported sales of 8 million copies. Other significant works from his pre-health decline period include Never Leave Me (1953), exploring personal and professional turmoil in post-war America; The Betsy (1971), a tale of intrigue and innovation within the automobile industry; and 79 Park Avenue (1955), depicting the harsh realities of prostitution and the legal battles surrounding it in urban New York. By 1997, Robbins had authored over 25 novels, many forming loose series such as The Pirate (1974), which delves into international intrigue and medical drama in the Middle East. These books were translated into 42 languages and contributed to total sales surpassing 750 million copies globally. Following Robbins' death in , ten additional novels were published posthumously between and , completed by ghostwriters based on his outlines and unfinished manuscripts. Examples include The Predators (), focusing on ambition and betrayal across generations, and The Deceivers (), a story of global power struggles in the entertainment and political spheres. These works extended his legacy while adhering to his signature style of high-drama narratives.

Legacy

Adaptations and media influence

Harold Robbins' novels were frequently adapted into films and television productions, particularly during the mid-20th century, capitalizing on their sensational themes of , , and ambition. One of the most prominent examples is (1964), directed by and starring , , and , which grossed over $20 million at the and exemplified the era's blend of and exploitation elements. Other notable film adaptations include (1969), directed by and featuring and as a mob hitman navigating high society; (1966), a prequel to directed by with in the lead role; and (1970), directed by and starring as a wealthy seeking revenge. Television adaptations also contributed to Robbins' media footprint, with (1978), a film directed by and featuring , , and in a story of corporate intrigue in the auto industry. The 1977 NBC miniseries , adapted from his 1974 novel and starring as a rising from poverty to prominence in New York's , received strong ratings and Emmy nominations for its dramatic portrayal of ambition and survival. In total, at least 13 of Robbins' works were adapted into commercially successful films and television series between the and , often amplifying the source material's emphasis on and to appeal to mainstream audiences. Robbins' adaptations played a key role in shaping the transition from to mainstream entertainment, influencing the "sexploitation" era in by normalizing explicit themes of wealth, sexuality, and power in cinema. His style inspired later authors such as , who cited Robbins' novels like The Adventurers among her favorites and echoed his formula of glamorous intrigue in her own bestsellers. In the post-adaptation era, Robbins' works saw renewed interest through later projects, including the 2001 film Body Parts directed by Craig Corman and starring , marking the first major screen adaptation in nearly two decades. By the 2020s, digital platforms and streaming services have facilitated revivals, with titles like and available on services such as and , alongside a 2024 comic book adaptation of Spellbinder by .

Commercial success and critical reception

Harold Robbins achieved extraordinary commercial success, with his novels selling over 750 million copies worldwide in 42 languages. He ranks fifth on the all-time , behind only , , , and . From his debut bestseller The Dream Merchants in 1949 through the 1990s, Robbins maintained a consistent presence on bestseller list, accumulating over 300 weeks in total. These milestones underscore his dominance in mass-market , where his works appealed to a broad audience seeking escapist tales of ambition, power, and romance. Financially, Robbins amassed a fortune estimated at over $50 million at the peak of his career, funding a lavish that included yachts, high-stakes , and residences in Beverly Hills and Palm Springs. In the 1970s, he commanded advances as high as $500,000 per book, reflecting publishers' confidence in his proven sales potential. This wealth enabled him to embody the extravagant characters in his novels, though his spending often outpaced earnings, leading to financial strains later in life. Critically, Robbins' reception was sharply divided. Popular media and readers praised his novels for their accessibility, fast-paced storytelling, and unapologetic entertainment value, with his formula of sex, money, and power captivating millions. However, literary critics derided his work as formulaic "potboilers" and "airport novels," criticizing the excessive depictions of sex and violence as lurid and lacking depth; for instance, a New York Times review of Goodbye, Janette (1981) labeled it "bad smut." Such dismissals positioned him as a purveyor of commercial trash rather than serious literature. Over time, views on Robbins evolved from the scandals of the , when his racy content—introducing explicit and four-letter words to mainstream fiction—shocked conservative audiences and drew debates, to later acknowledgment as a pioneer of the modern . Biographies like Wilson's Harold Robbins: The Man Who Invented (2007) have revisited his influence, highlighting how he transformed by blending , , and titillation into mass-appeal narratives. Despite this, academic study of his oeuvre remains limited compared to contemporaries like or , with analyses often confined to critiques rather than in-depth literary scholarship.

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