Edgar Rice Burroughs

Edgar Rice Burroughs – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950) — American author of Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, and other enduring adventure sagas. Explore his biography, writing legacy, philosophy, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Edgar Rice Burroughs stands among the giants of early 20th-century popular fiction. His works—especially Tarzan of the Apes and the Barsoom (Mars) series—sparked generations of readers’ imaginations and gave rise to one of the most enduring characters in literature. Though often classified as “pulp fiction,” Burroughs’ storytelling shaped the genres of adventure, planetary romance, and fantasy.

In the century since his birth, Burroughs’ influence has extended far beyond print—to film, comics, merchandising, and popular culture. His life story is one of late bloom, entrepreneurial risk, fascination with the unknown, and complex personal beliefs.

Early Life and Family

Edgar Rice Burroughs was born on September 1, 1875 in Chicago, Illinois.

His family had modest means, and during his youth the Burroughs family moved between Chicago and nearby Oak Park, where Edgar spent part of his childhood.

Youth and Education

Burroughs attended a series of local schools. Later he went on to Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, then the Michigan Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1895.

Afterward, Burroughs drifted among various jobs: working on a ranch in Idaho, managing parts of his father’s battery works in Chicago, and exploring ventures in Idaho mining. Emma Centennia Hulbert in January 1900, and over time they had three children: Joan, Hulbert, and John Coleman.

During the 1900s his life was unsettled. He held down jobs in railroads and mining, sometimes unsuccessfully, and used his spare time reading pulp magazines and imagining stories.

It was only in 1911, at around age 36, that he began writing in earnest. His first story, Under the Moons of Mars, was serialized in The All-Story magazine, initiating the Barsoom (Mars) series.

Career and Achievements

Breakthrough and Creation of Tarzan & Barsoom

In 1912, Burroughs published Tarzan of the Apes—its success was almost immediate.

His output over the next decades was prodigious. He wrote multiple interwoven series—Tarzan (about 24 volumes), Barsoom, Venus (Amtor), Pellucidar (inner-Earth), Caspak, and various other standalone works.

Business Innovation and Control

Unlike many authors of his era, Burroughs was savvy about rights and publishing. In 1923, he incorporated Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. to manage and publish his works and control licensing.

He also subdivided his ranch “Tarzana” in California, and the surrounding community later adopted the name Tarzana, CA in homage to his creation.

Later Career and World War II Role

During his later years, Burroughs continued writing, although health and world events intervened. When World War II broke out, even though he was in his 60s, Burroughs served as a war correspondent.

He continued producing novels into the 1940s. At his death in 1950, he had authored nearly 80 novels (or close to that number) across multiple series.

Death and Posthumous Recognition

Edgar Rice Burroughs died of a heart attack on March 19, 1950, in Encino, California.

At the time of his death, he was believed to have earned more from films than any other writer up to then, having made more than US$2 million in royalties from 27 Tarzan films.

In 2003, Burroughs was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame.

Historical Milestones & Context

• His transition to writing in middle age (mid-30s) defied conventional literary arcs.

• He was among the earliest authors to treat his literary creations as multimedia brands—extending Tarzan from pulp to comics, films, merchandise, and licensing.

• The naming of Tarzana, California after his fictional hero exemplifies how deeply his creation penetrated cultural geography.

• His views, especially support for eugenics and scientific racism, are controversial elements in his legacy.

Legacy and Influence

Edgar Rice Burroughs’ legacy is vast and multifaceted:

• Enduring characters: Tarzan remains among the most iconic fictional figures worldwide; John Carter and Barsoom have inspired generations of science fiction.

• Transmedia pioneer: His exploitation of film, comics, and merchandise gave early proof that fictional worlds could transcend page boundaries.

• Estate and control: Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. continues to manage his estate, licensing rights, and reprinting works.

• Cultural footprint: Beyond literature, Tarzan has been adapted countless times in cinema, television, radio, stage, and more.

• Critical reevaluation: Modern scholarship acknowledges both his imaginative power and the problematic aspects of his racial ideology.

Personality and Talents

Burroughs combined a vivid imagination with persistence and business acumen. Though he began as a relatively obscure writer, he steadily built a publishing engine around his work. His ability to imagine fully formed fantasy worlds—distinct societies, biology, politics—stood above many contemporaries.

He was entrepreneurial, self-aware, and protective of his creations. His choice to incorporate and control his literary rights was bold for a writer of his time.

At the same time, his personal beliefs were complex and controversial—his advocacy of eugenics and racial hierarchies casts a shadow over his imaginative brilliance.

Famous Quotes of Edgar Rice Burroughs

Below are some memorable quotes attributed to Burroughs, spanning his philosophy, storytelling philosophy, and reflections on life:

“Am I alive and a reality, or am I but a dream?” “No fiction is worth reading except for entertainment. If it entertains and is clean, it is good literature, or its kind. If it forms the habit of reading … it is the best literature.” “Imagination is but another name for super intelligence.” “I write to escape; to escape poverty.” “Love is a strange master, and human nature is still stranger.” “The more one listens to ordinary conversations the more apparent it becomes that the reasoning faculties of the brain take little part in the direction of the vocal organs.” “Death, only, renders hope futile.” “It never seems to occur to some people, that, like beauty, a sense of humor may sometimes be fatal.” “I verily believe that a man's way with women is in inverse ratio to his prowess among men. The weakling … have often great ability to charm the fair sex … the fighting man … sits hiding …”

These quotations reveal a mind attuned to imagination, paradox, human nature’s contradictions, and a certain wry skepticism.

Lessons from Edgar Rice Burroughs

1. It’s never too late to begin
   Burroughs didn’t begin his writing career until his mid-30s. His example shows that passion and dedication can overcome slow starts.

2. World-building is power
   His ability to invent fully realized worlds (jungle, Mars, hollow Earth) set a standard for speculative authors.

3. Protect your intellectual property
   His decision to found a corporation and manage licensing was forward-thinking and allowed him enduring control and profit.

4. Complex legacies require nuance
   Burroughs’ imaginative achievements coexist with ethical challenges in his beliefs—teaching us to read creators critically.

5. Transcend media boundaries
   His work illustrates that stories can live in many forms—print, film, merchandise—and flourish when managed well.

Conclusion

Edgar Rice Burroughs was a singular figure: a visionary storyteller, a business strategist, and a fixture of popular culture whose creations continue to resonate. Though his personal beliefs are rightly questioned, his imaginative worlds endure. Tarzan, John Carter, Pellucidar—they still stir the hearts of readers who yearn for adventure, escape, and wonder.

If you'd like, I can prepare a thematic deep dive—e.g. Tarzan’s evolution across media, or his influence on modern science fiction. Would you like me to do that?