Edgar Rice Burroughs

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875–1950) was an American author best known for creating Tarzan of the Apes and the Barsoom series set on a fictionalized Mars. After a series of failed careers, he began writing pulp fiction in 1911, achieving instant success with Tarzan of the Apes (1912). His Barsoom series, beginning with A Princess of Mars (1912), introduced readers to John Carter and the dying world of Barsoom, blending swashbuckling adventure with imaginative world-building. Burroughs wrote over 70 novels, including the Tarzan and Pellucidar series, and his work influenced science fiction, fantasy, and adventure genres. Though often dismissed by literary critics, his stories have remained in print and inspired countless adaptations in film, television, and comics. Burroughs’ legacy endures as a master of escapist fiction who expanded the boundaries of popular storytelling.