Introduction

Edgar Rice Burroughs (01 September 1875 to 19 March 1950) was an American writer, best known for his prolific output in the adventure, science fiction, and fantasy genres. Best known for creating the characters Tarzan (who appeared in a series of twenty-four books by him) and John Carter (who was a recurring character in a series of eleven books), he also wrote the Pellucidar series, the Amtor series, and the Caspak trilogy.

Tarzan was immediately popular, and Burroughs capitalised on it in every possible way, including a syndicated Tarzan comic strip, films, and merchandise. Tarzan remains one of the most successful fictional characters to this day and is a cultural icon. Burroughs’s California ranch is now the centre of the Tarzana neighbourhood in Los Angeles, named after the character. Burroughs was an explicit supporter of eugenics and scientific racism in both his fiction and nonfiction; Tarzan was meant to reflect these concepts.

Military Career

Burroughs was educated at a number of local schools then at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and then the Michigan Military Academy. He graduated in 1895, but he failed the entrance exam for the United States Military Academy at West Point, so instead he enlisted with the 7th US Cavalry in Fort Grant, Arizona Territory.

However, he was diagnosed with a heart problem and thus ineligible to serve, so he was discharged in 1897. After his discharge, Burroughs worked at a number of different jobs.

Burroughs was in his late 60s and was in Honolulu at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. Despite his age, he applied for and received permission to become a war correspondent, becoming one of the oldest US war correspondents during World War II. This period of his life is mentioned in William Brinkley’s bestselling novel Don’t Go Near the Water.

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

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