Edgar Rice Burroughs | |
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Born | Chicago, Illinois, US | September 1, 1875
Died | March 19, 1950 Encino, California, US | (aged 74)
Resting place | Tarzana, California, US |
Occupation | Novelist |
Period | 1911–1950 |
Genre | Adventure, fantasy, lost world, sword and planet, planetary romance, soft science fiction, western |
Notable works | |
Notable awards | Inkpot Award (1975)[1] |
Spouse | Emma Centennia Hulbert (1900–1934) (divorced) Florence Gilbert (1935–1941) (divorced) |
Children | 3, including John Coleman Burroughs |
Relatives | James Pierce (son-in-law) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Service | United States Army |
Years of service |
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Rank | |
Unit |
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Battles / wars | Indian Wars |
Signature | |
Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1, 1875 – March 19, 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.[2]
Tarzan was immediately popular, and Burroughs capitalized 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 center of the Tarzana neighborhood in Los Angeles, named after the character.[3] Burroughs was an explicit supporter of eugenics and scientific racism in both his fiction and nonfiction; Tarzan was meant to reflect these concepts.