Donald Wandrei

Born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Donald Wandrei was drawn early to books and imaginative writing. He studied at the University of Minnesota, sold fiction and poetry while still young, and became known for work that moved easily among science fiction, fantasy, horror, and verse.

In the pulp-magazine era, his stories appeared in venues such as Weird Tales and Astounding. He is especially remembered for his close connection to H. P. Lovecraft and for co-founding Arkham House with August Derleth in 1939, an important small press created to preserve and publish Lovecraft's work in book form.

Wandrei's own writing is often noted for its eerie atmosphere, cosmic scale, and poetic energy. Along with his editorial work, that lasting mix of imagination and advocacy helped him earn a respected place in twentieth-century speculative fiction.