Edgar Rice Burroughs

Edgar Rice Burroughs, born in 1875, was an American writer celebrated for his extensive contributions to adventure, science fiction, and fantasy literature. He is most renowned for creating iconic characters such as Tarzan, who starred in twenty-four books, and John Carter, who appeared in eleven. Burroughs also penned other notable series like Pellucidar, Amtor, and the Caspak trilogy.

His creations achieved immense popularity, with Tarzan becoming a lasting cultural icon. Burroughs actively leveraged the character's fame through various media, including comic strips, films, and merchandise, proving experts wrong about potential media saturation. The success of Tarzan even led to a neighborhood in Los Angeles being named after the character. Despite his literary success, Burroughs also held and expressed views on eugenics and scientific racism, which were sometimes reflected in his fiction. He passed away in 1950, leaving behind a significant literary legacy.

Born in Chicago in 1875, Edgar Rice Burroughs came from a family with deep roots in North America, tracing ancestry back to colonial settlers. After receiving his education at institutions like Phillips Academy and the Michigan Military Academy, he briefly served in the U.S. Cavalry before being discharged due to a heart condition. Burroughs held various jobs, including working on a ranch and in his father's factory, before marrying his childhood sweetheart, Emma Hulbert, in 1900. He later joined his brothers in ranching and mining ventures in Idaho. By 1911, facing years of modest earnings as a wholesaler, Burroughs began writing fiction. Inspired by pulp magazines, he believed he could produce equally entertaining stories, leading to his first serialized story, 'Under the Moons of Mars,' in 1912.

Burroughs's literary career quickly gained momentum with the serialization of 'Under the Moons of Mars,' which introduced the character John Carter and the planet Barsoom. This was swiftly followed by 'Tarzan of the Apes,' which debuted in the same year and became one of his most successful creations. His imaginative works transported readers to diverse settings, including the fictional planet Barsoom (Mars), Amtor (Venus), the interior of the Earth in his Pellucidar stories, and lost islands like Caspak. Beyond science fiction and fantasy, he also explored Western and historical romance genres. Burroughs's ability to craft compelling narratives and unique worlds resonated widely with audiences.

The immense popularity of Tarzan allowed Burroughs to explore various avenues for capitalizing on the character, including syndicated comic strips, films, and merchandise, demonstrating a keen business acumen. His ranch north of Los Angeles was eventually named "Tarzana," and the surrounding community adopted the name. In 1923, he established his own publishing company, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., to manage his output. Later in life, Burroughs became a pilot and experienced World War II firsthand, serving as one of the oldest war correspondents during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He passed away in 1950, having written nearly 80 novels and earning significant royalties from film adaptations.

“I can trace my ancestry back to Deacon Edmund Rice.”

“I wanted to find out how bad a book he could write and 'get away with', which is a legitimate ambition.”