Robert Bloch

Born in Chicago on April 5, 1917, Robert Bloch became one of the most influential American writers of horror, suspense, and fantasy. Early in his career he was encouraged by H. P. Lovecraft, and he began publishing in pulp magazines before building a long career that lasted decades.

He is most famous for the 1959 novel Psycho, which became the basis for Alfred Hitchcock’s landmark film. But his work was much broader than that single title: he wrote hundreds of short stories and many novels, along with scripts for radio, film, and television.

Bloch’s fiction is remembered for its mix of psychological tension, macabre humor, and clean, readable prose. He died in Los Angeles on September 23, 1994, leaving behind a body of work that still feels lively, unsettling, and surprisingly modern.