The Hyborian Age

[Transcriber's Note: This etext was first published in The
Phantagraph February, August, and October-November 1936 issues.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed.]

(Nothing in this article is to be considered as an attempt to
advance any theory in opposition to accepted history. It is simply a
fictional background for a series of fiction-stories. When I began
writing the Conan stories a few years ago, I prepared this 'history'
of his age and the peoples of that age, in order to lend him and his
sagas a greater aspect of realness. And I found that by adhering to
the 'facts' and spirit of that history, in writing the stories, it
was easier to visualize (and therefore to present) him as a real
flesh-and-blood character rather than a ready-made product. In
writing about him and his adventures in the various kingdoms of his
Age, I have never violated the 'facts' or spirit of the 'history'
here set down, but have followed the lines of that history as
closely as the writer of actual historical-fiction follows the lines
of actual history. I have used this 'history' as a guide in all the
stories in this series that I have written.)