Edgar Rice Burroughs: The Man Who Created Tarzan

This biography chronicles the life and career of Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Tarzan and John Carter of Mars. The book covers Burroughs' early struggles, his path to becoming an author, and his eventual success in pulp fiction and Hollywood. Drawing from extensive research and primary sources, author Irwin Porges reconstructs Burroughs' personal history from his Chicago childhood through his various careers as a ranch hand, gold miner, and pencil sharpener salesman. The narrative follows his transformation into one of the most commercially successful writers of the early 20th century. The book examines Burroughs' writing process, business decisions, and innovations in marketing and licensing. Porges documents how Burroughs built his literary empire and pioneered new approaches to merchandising his characters. This comprehensive work reveals the intersection of imagination and entrepreneurship in American popular culture, while exploring how one author's creation of an iconic character shaped both literature and entertainment for generations to come.

Readers commend this biography for its comprehensive research and detail. Many note it remains the most thorough examination of Burroughs' life and career since its 1975 publication. Fans value the inclusion of personal letters, business documents, and early manuscripts. Common praise focuses on: - Deep coverage of Burroughs' pre-writing career struggles - Details about his business decisions and publishing contracts - Documentation of his personal relationships Main criticisms: - Dense writing style can be dry and academic - At 820 pages, some find it overly long - Limited coverage of Burroughs' later years From aggregated online reviews: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (15 ratings) One reader noted: "Exhaustively researched but requires dedication to get through." Another mentioned: "More scholarly than entertaining, but remains the definitive Burroughs biography." Book is out of print and used copies often sell for over $100.

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🌿 At 800+ pages with extensive research spanning decades, this biography remains the most comprehensive work ever published about Edgar Rice Burroughs. 🦁 The book reveals that Burroughs tried numerous failed careers—including gold miner, railroad policeman, and pencil sharpener salesman—before turning to writing at age 35 out of financial desperation. 📚 Burroughs initially wrote under a pseudonym because he was embarrassed about writing fiction, believing it beneath his dignity. He later stated he'd "rather write a good story than be President." 🎬 The biography documents how Burroughs became one of the first authors to incorporate himself, forming Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. in 1923 to better control and profit from his creative properties. 🌟 Author Irwin Porges gained unprecedented access to Burroughs' personal archives and interviewed family members extensively, taking 16 years to complete this definitive work before his death in 1975.