Edgar Rice Burroughs: The Creator of Tarzan and His Legacy

Key facts

• Edgar Rice Burroughs was born on September 1, 1875, in Chicago and died on March 19, 1950, in Encino.
• He held various jobs including U.S. Cavalry soldier, miner, railway policeman, drugstore clerk, and temperine salesman, all without success.
• His first novel, 'Under the Moons of Mars', was serialized in 1912 in All-Story Magazine under the pseudonym Normal Bean.
• The novel was later published as 'A Princess of Mars' in 1917, starting the Barsoom series.
• Tarzan first appeared in 'Tarzan of the Apes' in October 1912 in All-Story Magazine, and as a book in 1914.
• The Tarzan series comprises 26 books written until Burroughs's death.
• Tarzan's parents were John Clayton Greystoke and Alice, stranded in Angola after a mutiny.
• Tarzan was adopted by the ape Khala after his parents were killed by gorillas led by Kerchak.
• Tarzan's story includes his encounter with Jane Porter and his fight with the leopard Sabor.
• Johnny Weissmuller played Tarzan in 12 films.
• Burroughs lived at Ranch Tarzana in California and accumulated a fortune of several million dollars.
• The article was written by Pierfrancesco De Felice for MIfacciodiCultura.