Edgar Rice Burroughs
Biography
Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) was an American writer best known for his tales of adventure set in exotic locales. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Burroughs tried several careers, including cowboy, soldier, and businessman, before turning to writing in his late thirties after finding himself unemployed. His first story, "Under the Moons of Mars," was serialized in All-Story Magazine in 1912 and later published as A Princess of Mars, introducing his iconic character John Carter. He quickly followed this success with Tarzan of the Apes (1912), which catapulted him to international fame. Burroughs was incredibly prolific, writing over 80 novels across various series, including Pellucidar and The Land That Time Forgot. He established his own publishing company, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc., to control his works, an early example of author self-syndication. His imaginative storytelling and creation of enduring archetypes left a significant mark on popular culture, influencing generations of science fiction and fantasy writers.
Selected Thoughts
«I am a lord of the jungle, but I am not a king.»
«I had discovered that I was a coward. I must have been born with that yellow streak, for I never grew out of it.»
«The one thing that differentiates man from animal is the desire to know.»
Writing Style
Burroughs' writing style is characterized by fast-paced narratives, vivid and imaginative descriptions of alien worlds and primeval jungles, and a strong emphasis on action and adventure. He often employed a direct, unadorned prose, focusing on plot progression and suspense. His stories frequently feature elements of pulp fiction, including cliffhangers, daring heroes, beautiful heroines, and monstrous antagonists, all wrapped in a sense of romantic escapism and exploration of the unknown.