Book Cover of Edgar Rice Burroughs

Timeline

Lifetime: 1875 - 1950 Passed: ≈ 74 years ago

Title

Novelist

Country/Nationality

United States
Wikipedia

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1, 1875 – March 19, 1950) was an American speculative fiction writer, best known for his prolific output in the adventure, science fiction and fantasy genres. His most well-known creations include Tarzan of the Apes, John Carter of Mars (Barsoom series) and Carson Napier of Venus (Amtor series).

He is also known for the hollow Earth–themed Pellucidar series, beginning with At the Earth's Core (1914); and the lost world–themed Caspak trilogy, beginning with The Land that Time Forgot (1918).

Burroughs' California ranch is now the center of the Tarzana neighborhood in Los Angeles.

Burroughs wrote popular science fiction and fantasy stories involving adventurers from Earth transported to various planets (notably Barsoom, Burroughs's fictional name for Mars, and Amtor, his fictional name for Venus), lost islands, and into the interior of the Hollow Earth in his Pellucidar stories. He also wrote Westerns and historical romances. Besides those published in All-Story, many of his stories were published in The Argosy magazine.

Tarzan was a cultural sensation when introduced. Burroughs was determined to capitalize on Tarzan's popularity in every way possible. He planned to exploit Tarzan through several different media including a syndicated Tarzan comic strip, movies, and merchandise. Experts in the field advised against this course of action, stating that the different media would just end up competing against each other. Burroughs went ahead, however, and proved the experts wrong – the public wanted Tarzan in whatever fashion he was offered. Tarzan remains one of the most successful fictional characters to this day and is a cultural icon.

In either 1915 or 1919, Burroughs purchased a large ranch north of Los Angeles, California, which he named "Tarzana". The citizens of the community that sprang up around the ranch voted to adopt that name when their community, Tarzana, California, was formed in 1927. Also, the unincorporated community of Tarzan, Texas, was formally named in 1927 when the US Postal Service accepted the name, reputedly coming from the popularity of the first (silent) Tarzan of the Apes film, starring Elmo Lincoln, and an early "Tarzan" comic strip.

In 1923, Burroughs set up his own company, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., and began printing his own books through the 1930s.

After the war ended, Burroughs moved back to Encino, California, where after many health problems, he died of a heart attack on March 19, 1950, having written almost 80 novels. He is buried in Tarzana, California, US.

When he died, he was believed to have been the writer who had made the most from films, earning over $2 million in royalties from 27 Tarzan pictures.

The Science Fiction Hall of Fame inducted Burroughs in 2003.

Books by Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan of the Apes Cover image

Tarzan of the Apes

Fantasy Adventure Novel Travel
Animal Jungle Rescue

An aristocratic English family is marooned off the coast of West Africa. They find their way into the interior of the dense jungle that lines the coast and here, Lord Greystoke is killed by a predatory ape. Lady Greystoke survives with her infant boy...

The Gods of Mars Cover image

The Gods of Mars

Fantasy Romance Science Fiction Novel
Scientific romance Planetary romance Mars

Burroughs’ second book in the classic Barsoom series, The Gods of Mars is a scientific fiction novel following the adventures of John Carter as he returns to Mars after a ten year hiatus in the hope of being reunited with his wife, child and the Red...

A Princess of Mars Cover image

A Princess of Mars

Fantasy Science Fiction Novel
Planetary romance Sword and planet

Burroughs’ first published book, as well as the first book in the Barsoom series, A Princess of Mars is a science fiction novel following the adventures of the heroic John Carter, after he is mysteriously transported to the planet Mars where he meets...

Warlord of Mars Cover image

Warlord of Mars

Fantasy Science Fiction Novel
Comics Planetary romance Graphic novel

The Warlord of Mars is a science fantasy novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the third of his Barsoom series. Burroughs began writing it in June, 1913, going through five working titles; Yellow Men of Barsoom, The Fighting Prince of Mars,...

The Chessmen of Mars Cover image

The Chessmen of Mars

Fantasy Science Fiction Novel
Planetary romance Sword and planet Alien

The Chessmen of Mars is a science fantasy novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fifth of his Barsoom series. Burroughs began writing it in January, 1921, and the finished story was first published in Argosy All-Story Weekly as a six-part...

The Land that Time Forgot Cover image

The Land that Time Forgot

Science Fiction Novel
Lost World

The Land That Time Forgot is a fantasy novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the first of his Caspak trilogy. His working title for the story was "The Lost U-Boat." The sequence was first published in Blue Book Magazine as a three-part seria...

At the Earth's Core Cover image

At the Earth's Core

Fantasy Science Fiction
Geography Mining

At the Earth's Core is a 1914 fantasy novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the first in his series about the fictional "hollow earth" land of Pellucidar. It first appeared as a four-part serial in All-Story Weekly from April 4–25, 1914. It...

The Return of Tarzan Cover image

The Return of Tarzan

Adventure Novel
Ship Travel

The Return of Tarzan is a novel by U.S.American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the second in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. It was first published in the pulp magazine New Story Magazine in the issues for June through...

The Beasts of Tarzan Cover image

The Beasts of Tarzan

Adventure Fairy Tale Novel
Animal Jungle

The Beasts of Tarzan is a novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the third in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. Originally serialized in All-Story Cavalier magazine in 1914, the novel was first published in boo...

Thuvia, Maid of Mars Cover image

Thuvia, Maid of Mars

Fantasy Science Fiction
Stars Mars

Thuvia, Maid of Mars is a science fantasy novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fourth of the Barsoom series. The principal characters are Carthoris (the son of John Carter of Mars) and Thuvia of Ptarth, each of whom appeared in the prev...

The Son of Tarzan Cover image

The Son of Tarzan

Adventure Fiction Novel
Animal Jungle

The Son of Tarzan is a novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fourth in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. It was written between January 21 and May 11, 1915, and first published in the magazine All-Story We...

Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar Cover image

Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar

Action Novel
Animal Jungle

Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar is a novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the fifth in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. It first appeared in the November and December issues of All-Story Cavalier Weekly in 191...

The Efficiency Expert Cover image

The Efficiency Expert

Fiction Novel
Love Contemporary Crimes Short Works

The Efficiency Expert is a 1921 novella by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs. One of a small number of Burroughs' novels set in contemporary America as opposed to a fantasy universe, The Efficiency Expert follows the adventures of Jimmy Torrance a...

Tarzan the Untamed Cover image

Tarzan the Untamed

Adventure Fiction Novel
Animal Jungle

Tarzan the Untamed is a book by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the seventh in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. It was originally published as two separate stories serialized in different pulp magazines; "Tarzan...

Tarzan the Terrible Cover image

Tarzan the Terrible

Adventure Fiction Novel
Animal Nature Jungle

Tarzan the Terrible is a novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the eighth in his series of twenty-four books about the title character Tarzan. It was first published as a serial in the pulp magazine Argosy All-Story Weekly in the issues for...

The Mad King  Cover image

The Mad King

Adventure Action
Love Rules Kingdom Jungle Life America Imprisonment United States

Set in the fictional European kingdom of Lutha, the protagonist is a young American named Barney Custer, of Beatrice, Nebraska, who is the son of an American farmer and a runaway Luthan princess, Victoria Rubinroth. Unaware of his royal blood, much l...

The Oakdale Affair  Cover image

The Oakdale Affair

Action Novel
Detective Marriage Murder Mystery Adventure Crime Robbery

In the home of Jonas Prim, president of an Oakdale bank, a thief makes off with a servant's clothing and valuables belonging to Prim's daughter Abigail. Abigail is thought to be absent visiting Sam Benham, whom her parents want her to marry. Escaping...

The Outlaw of Torn  Cover image

The Outlaw of Torn

Action Fiction Novel
Power Priest Adventure Historical Fiction Struggle Outlaw Letters England

The story is set in 13th century England and concerns the fictional outlaw Norman of Torn, who purportedly harried the country during the power struggle between King Henry III and Simon de Montfort. Norman is the supposed son of the Frenchman de Vac,...

Pellucidar  Cover image

Pellucidar

Adventure Novel
Action Science Fiction America Earth United States

The stories initially involve the adventures of mining heir David Innes and his inventor friend Abner Perry after they use an "iron mole" to burrow 500 miles into the Earth's crust. Later protagonists include indigenous caveman Tanar and additional v...

The Girl from Hollywood  Cover image

The Girl from Hollywood

Fiction Novel
Family Murder Young Paradise Life Relationships Literary Fiction

The Girl from Hollywood is an Edgar Rice Burroughs contemporary fiction novel. The Girl from Hollywood was published as a serial by Munsey's Magazine from June to November, 1922. The book version was first published by Macaulay Co. on 10 August 1923....

The People that Time Forgot Cover image

The People that Time Forgot

Fiction Novel Science
Family Mystery Action Adventure Expedition Island Race Science Fun

The People That Time Forgot is a fantasy novel by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, the second of his Caspak trilogy. The sequence was first published in Blue Book Magazine as a three-part serial in the issues for August, October, and December 19...

The Tarzan Twins Cover image

The Tarzan Twins

Novel
Animal Truth Dream Adventure Thriller Courage Jungle Friendship Challenges Determination Discovery Bravery Wilderness Mission Danger Secret Twins Tribes

It is a thrilling adventure novel for those who love action and excitement. This classic book was first published in November 1963 and has since become a beloved children's classic. The story follows two adventurous young twins, Dick and Doc, as the...

The Moon Men Cover image

The Moon Men

Science Fiction Novel
Slavery Battle Nature Adventure Thriller Imaginative Society Danger

This is an exhilarating science fiction novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey to a lunar world filled with danger and intrigue. Written by the acclaimed author in 1926, this book showcases Burroughs' masterful storytelling and imaginative p...

The Master Mind of Mars Cover image

The Master Mind of Mars

Science Fiction
Mystery Adventure Power of Thought Thriller Exploration Suspense Journey Identity Mars Imagination Good or Bad Twists Plotting

It is an exciting and imaginative book that will captivate the minds of readers. This thrilling adventure transports readers to the wondrous world of Mars. Originally published in 1928, "The Master Mind of Mars" is a notable addition to Edgar Rice B...

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