Edgar Rice Burroughs, who also wrote under the alias Norman Bean and John Tyler McColloch, was an American novelist, short story writer, journalist, and scriptwriter.  Burroughs was best known to all as Tarzan’s creator.  Burroughs had an imagination capable of finding imaginary worlds and taking the reader on an exciting journey.

Burroughs did not simply start his career of writing intentionally.  As he was approaching thirty-six, his life looked as though it had no direction.  He had no job skills or profession and commonly worked in office positions.  He struggled in the business world and turned to writing as an escape or a way to express himself. While writing, he was able to retreat from the problems of daily life and escape into his own fantasy land.

“Formed in his daydreams and imaginings, the ingredients for many stories-strange encounters, daring rescues, hairbreadth escapes, glorious battles-awaited his summons. As he wrote, the real world of the commonplace became the unreal one; it vanished, and in its place he conjured up a strange fierce civilization set in the midst of a dying planet.” (Porges 1-2) 

One reason for Burroughs' success in writing was that he was able to make the most impossible tale possible in the reader’s mind.  His impossible tales are shaped by his appearance versus reality themes.  Burroughs takes reality and shapes it into an impossible tale.  An example of this would be relating the realities of the world to the savagery of the jungle in his Tarzan stories.  Everyone can relate the two in terms of how the jungle is perceived to be uncivilized, but the encounters of daily life can be considered with the same characteristics.  His tales are also shaped by survival of the fittest.  This is very much part of daily living, and his stories, though fictional, represent this theme.  All of Burroughs' works surround survival of the fittest just as our daily lives surround it also.  Therefore, his impossible tales do not seem impossible if viewed in this perspective.  He avoided dealing with true life.  Although he often wrote his stories with a plot that seemed to surround true life, he built imaginary worlds filled with tales of adventure.  Within everyone’s fantasy is a superhero.  Burroughs' superheroes always seem to be the master of their own destiny--never giving up or giving in to others.  Their tasks are believed to be nothing they can not do or accomplish whatever they are facing. Whether they face opposing humans or forces of nature.  Therefore, in our minds Burroughs has created a superhero for us to cheer.  For this reason, while readers cheered the heroes in the story, they also cheered Burroughs and brought his imagination to life, and he became a hero.“Edgar Rice Burroughs was his main character playing the scene his imagination approved.” (3)

Another theme that Burroughs used frequently was adventure mixed with romance.  Each of his books possess these themes.  A vivid example could be seen in his book Tarzan of the Apes.  Tarzan, after his parents die in the jungle, is raised by apes and learns to communicate, survive, and live among the other animals of the jungle.  There he was faced with many adventures and battles within the jungle.  In the midst of adventure another element is added--romance.  Tarzan falls in love with a woman brought to the jungle with an expedition.  Tarzan enters into civilization to win her love but the wilderness inside him draws him back into the jungle. Burroughs could be writing, one could say, about the adventures of his own life. Though not in the setting of a jungle, the business world is often referred to as a jungle to the working class in which he failed.  Romance was something he failed at with the result of separation and divorce.  However, at one time in his life romance was a powerful force.  He married his childhood sweetheart with his first marriage, their romance conquered many obstacles such as her parents not wanting the marriage to occur.  In the end, Burroughs ended up alone, no romance and only tales of adventures remembered.

Romance is found throughout several Tarzan stories.  As Holtmark explains,“Since the Tarzan novels are, generically speaking, heroic romances, it is not surprising that love and its darker counterpart lust, appear again and again in eternal triangles in which, usually two men vie for the affections of a women.” (46) Adventure and romance can be said go hand in hand in Burroughs' stories. 

Burroughs' sense of adventure brings the reader an unusual and exciting experience.  The hero is up against the odds in all of Burroughs' stories.  His tales are full of amazing action such as mortal combats with apes and lions along with breathtaking aerial crosses between the trees of the jungle.  He is a silent stalker and skilledas a woodsman.  His ever-popular victory yell could be heard throughout the jungle which proves his supremacy.  The setting of his Tarzan stories are also thought to be adventurous.  The uncivilized jungle with uncertain circumstances could be called an adventurous place.  The animals also come to life in Burroughs' stories and have personalities all of their own such as Tarzan’s ape mother, Kala.  His stories leave the reader with a awaiting another adventure and saying to themselves, "what will happen next?" 

Burroughs also brings romance to the reader.  Forbidden love such as those of Romeo and Juliet or Beauty and the Beast.  In the beginning of Burroughs' Tarzan story, he explains how Tarzan felt when he saw Jane.  Tarzan was in awe after seeing Jane.  He thought she was the most beautiful sight he had seen.  He felt she was one of his “own kind”.  In most of Burroughs' stories two men often compete for the affections of a woman.  The women are subjected to hardships of the environment or by animals, especially apes, in the Tarzan stories and the triumphant victor wins the love of the woman.  The forbidden love of Tarzan and Jane makes the romance more intriguing.  The “ape man” eventually wins the love of the “socially superior” woman.  It is not until the end of the sequels that Tarzan gets Jane.  The tale of the two and their love and Tarzan's act of self sacrifice when Tarzan steps aside to let the British nobleman marry Jane can be classed as one of the world’s greatest romances.

Also Burroughs used the struggle of survival theme throughout his stories.  Using Tarzan as an example again, Tarzan has to learn to adapt to his difficult environment to survive.  Struggle for survival can also be seen in Burroughs' life.  He struggles to find his proper profession to afford the lifestyle he wanted.  In the end his writing helped him to win the struggle and earn the statues he wanted.  His award some would say was survival.  He beat the odds and won just as Tarzan does.  As Seeyle quotes, “… Tarzan of the Apes was a part of a powerful Renaissance in the United States of popular interest in primitivism, born out of a complex reaction to the industrial revolution and Darwinism.  Burroughs' Tarzan, the ideal image of pure animalistic power at odds with the civilized world, appealed to readers from his very inception and became one of the most enduring icons of popular culture.” (Seeyle, Introduction)  Struggle for survival is present in all societies or communities in our present day.  This could be used as an example to show problems of daily living and what survival can give us if we win the struggle-life.

Edgar Rice Burroughs may not exist vividly in everyone’s mind, but he definitely left his mark on the world.  Although his life was filled with some misfortune and failed business deals, he succeeded in his life and in the world of literature.  Although he is responsible for many novels, when Tarzan “came to life” in his mind, the story would pass through generations of families of many cultures or ethnic backgrounds.  Even though when you ask some "Who is Edgar Rice Burroughs?" most are unsure, but almost everyone knows who Tarzan is. Therefore, Edgar Rice Burroughs will always “live” through the eyes and stories of Tarzan.

Bibliography

Gives the reader a precise summary about the author’s personal life, career, writings and gives a chronology of events throughout the author’s life, from birth to death. 

          Holtsmark, Erling B. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Boston, Massachusetts: Twayne Publishers, 1986.

Book dedicated to all aspects of Burroughs life, popular characters in some of his works such as Tarzan and John Carter, literary background and themes, along with notes and reference fact about contents within the book. Chronology of events of author’s life. 

          Kepos, Pauls and Dennis Poupard, eds. Twentieth Century Literary Criticism. Vol 32. Detriot, Michigan: Gale Research Comp. 1989.

Brief history of author’s life, gives list of principal works, and criticism for other literary scholars along with description about the literary’s scholars background.

          Porges, Irwin. Edgar Rice Burroughs:The Man Who Created Tarzan. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University Press, 1975.

Mr. Porges is the first and only researcher who was given complete and uncensored access to all of the Burroughs family’s personal files as well as those of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. This permission was given by Edgar Rice Burroughs sons, Hulbert and Jack Burroughs. Porges gives the reader an interesting story of Burroughs and his career. Porges was an author, historian, musician, and world traveler. He taught English, literature and creative writing at Valley College in Van Nuys, California for twenty three years meanwhile writing articles, short stories, and books. 

         Seeyle, John. Introduction. Tarzan of the Apes. By Edgar Rice  Burroughs. New York, New York: Penguin Books, 1990.

Brief summary of Burroughs and the development and story created by Burroughs. Gives facts about Burroughs life, how his stories were created in his mind, and how his stories compare with some other literary scholars novels and stories. 

Study Questions

1. Why does Burroughs repeatedly illustrate the difference between the seeming savagery of the jungle and the apparent refinement of civilization? 
2.  Why are the women in Burroughs stories subject to incredible hardships, mistreated by men and animals (especially apes) but rises to transform herself into a heroine? 
3. Why does Burroughs use the idea of struggle for survival? 
4. In Burroughs Tarzan stories he illustrates the “villains” do not have to be human form, why is this? What are some of the villains Tarzan faced? 
5. Do you think Burroughs used his own personal experiences in his stories? If so, why do you think he used his own personal experiences? 

Links to find more information about Edgar Rice Burroughs

Excellent web site for all those interested in Edgar Rice Burroughs, also has several links listed on the website page. Has illustrated Edgar Rice Burroughs bibliography, chronology of events of Burroughs titles, alphabetical list of novels, and much more.

http://www.literature.org/authors/burroughs-edgar-rice/

A collection of Edgar Rice Burroughs works

http://home.westman.wave.ca/hillmans/erblinxx.html

Illustrated Edgar Rice Burroughs bibliography and chronology of events of his life with several additional links.

http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/erburrou.htm

Brief description of author and some of author’s famous works.

http://www.oocities.org/sotto/village/5619/main.html

Website you can download five of his Martian tale books. Illustrations available of some of his Martian tales.

http://oprf.com/Burroughs/index.html

Although a brief biography ofBurroughs, has several links of his works and his life. Also has a link where you can hear Tarzan’s yell.

http://www.tombtown.com/about.htm

FOR FUN ONLY a 3-D interactive virtual reality cemetery on the web. An autobiographical sketch of Burroughs.

FAMILY:

SIBLINGS: Burroughs was the youngest of four boys

WIFE: Emma Centennia Hulbert, married January 31, 1900 – divorced in 1934

She died after fighting a losing battle with alcoholism

CHILDREN: Joan, Hulbert, John Coleman (they were from his first marriage)

WIFE: Florence Gilbert, she was a friend of his daughter, Joan 

Married in 1935 – divorced in 1942

EDUCATION:

 
• Harvard School 
• Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass. 
• Michigan Military Academy, Orchard Lake, from which he graduated in 1895 

*Assistant commandant – Michigan Military Academy

*Geography instructor

*Treasurer – American Battery Co.

*Department Manager – Sears, Roebuck and Co.

*Department Manager – A.W. Shaw Co.

*War correspondent for United Press and Los Angeles Times

*Gold miner

*Storekeeper

*Cowboy

*Railroad Policeman

MILITARY SERVICE:

*U.S. Army, 7^th U.S. Cavalry, Fort Grant, Arizona – discharged as under age

*Later served in the Illinois Reserve Militia – became a major

MEMBER:

Loyal Legions Club

HOMES:

*Chicago, Illinois

*Fort Grant, Arizona

*Pocatello, Idaho

*Salt Lake City, Michigan

*Hawaiian Islands

*San Fernando Valley, California – estate was named Tarzana by Burroughs and eventually subdivided into lots for homes known as the City of Tarzana

Chronology

1875- Born in Chicago, Illinois on September 1

1881- Enters Brown School

1887 – Early interest in classical antiquity, especially mythology, as recorded in correspondence with older brother.

1888- Enters the Harvard School in Chicago

1891- Interlude on the Burroughs ranch in Idaho; enters Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts in fall

1892- Enters Michigan Military Academy

1895- Graduated from same; fails entrance exam for West Point; becomes teacher ar Michigan Military Academy

1896- Enlists in army and is assigned to Troop B Seventh Cavalry in the Arizona Territory

1897- Secures a discharge from army; begins work at father’ s firm, the American Battery Company

1898- Returns to Idaho; opens stationery store in Pocatello

1899- Travels to New York, returns to work at American Battery Company. Buys copy of Descent of Man by Charles Darwin

1900- Marries grammar school sweetheart Emma Hulbert in Chicago on 31 January

1903- Travels with Emma to Idaho to join his brothers’ mining company. First fiction written in this period ( a fairy tale set in Idaho).

1904- In Salt Lake City, has job as railroad policeman; in Chicago, employed as construction worker, door to door book saleman, vendor of light bulbs, accountant.

1906- Tries to enlist in Chinese army

1907- Has job at Sears, Roebuck, shows talent for managerial work.

1908- Daughter Joan born 12 January. Though successful at Sears, leaves security of this job to start own business (which fails).

1909- Son Hulbert born 12 August. Turns down job offer form Sears, Roebuck

1911- Begins writing a Princess of Mars in July, sells it before end of year. Begins Tarzan of the Apes.

1912- Metcalf of All-Story buys serial rights to Tarzan of the Apes for seven hundred dollars.

1913- Father dies 15 February, son John born 28 February. Travels to California (San Diego) with family for the winter.

1914- Returns to Chicago. Tarzan of the Apes sold as a book to A.C. McClurg & Co.

1915- First sale to Hollywood; attempts script writing. Joins Author’s League of America.

1916- Travels t Los Angeles. Difficulties with film producers. Plans to enlist for World War I.

1917- Appointed captain in reserves by state of Illinois

1918- Movie release of Tarzan of the Apes and The Romance of Tarzan. Period of much patriotic, even chauvinistic journalism.

1919- Permanent move to California, where he buys estate (to be named Tarzana Ranch) In San Fernando Valley.

1922- Begins subdividing part of ranch to sell lots for houses

1923- Incorporates self as Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.

1924- Plans to sell 120 acres of Tarzana ranch for country club

1927- Joins anti-prohibition group

1929- First daily comic strip of Tarzan

1930- Tarzana officially recognized as an independent post office

1932- First Tarzan radio show

1934- Divorces Emma Burroughs

1935- Marries Florence Dearholt

1940- Moves to Hawaii

1941- Florence leaves him; columnist for the Honolulu Advertiser

1942- Serves as war correspondent in South Pacific

1944- Covers war as correspondent in Gilberts and Marshalls

1949- Has serious heart attack

1950- Dies on 19 March.

Chronology of events taken from Erling B. Holtsmark