Robert W. Chambers 
The Common Law (Annotated) 

• This edition includes the following editor’s introduction: The importance of Robert William Chambers for fantasy literature

Originally published in 1911, “The Common Law” is a novel by American artist and fiction writer Robert W. Chambers, best known for his book of short stories entitled “The King In Yellow.”



“The Common Law” tells the story of an artist, Louis ’Kelly’ Neville, who is already famous, but finds greatness easier to talk about than achieve. Chance conversation with the model for his new project leads him to put his theories about creativity, society, and love to the test, and he finds that other people have their own ideas about how all of these should go, from his closest friends and rivals to the woman who warms his heart. Indeed, love itself may cost him everything, including his artistic inspiration. Is he willing to pay the price? And even if he is, can he?