Origins & Early Life

Harold Robbins (born Francis Kane; May 21, 1916 – October 14, 1997) was an American author. One of the best-selling writers of all time, he wrote over 25 best-sellers, selling over 750 million copies in 32 languages. Robbins was born Francis Kane to unknown parents in New York City in 1916. He was adopted by Frances "Fannie" Smith and Charles Rubin, well-educated Jewish emigrants from the Russian Empire, his father from Odessa and his mother from Neshwies (Nyasvizh), south of Minsk.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Robbins later falsely claimed to be a Jewish orphan who had been raised in a Catholic boys' home. Instead he was raised by his father, a pharmacist, and his stepmother, Blanche, in Brooklyn. Robbins dropped out of high school at 15 to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He claimed to have served on a submarine that was torpedoed, leaving him as the sole survivor; in fact, no U.S.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

submarines were torpedoed during the 1930s. Robbins worked a variety of jobs, including errand boy, bookies' runner, and inventory clerk in a grocers. He was employed by Universal Pictures from 1940 to 1957, starting off as a clerk and rising to an executive. His first book was Never Love a Stranger (1948). The...

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