Who wrote the Tarzan series of books?

Edgar Rice Burroughs.

The Tarzan series of books, a seminal work in the adventure and jungle genres, was created by American author Edgar Rice Burroughs. Burroughs, born in 1875, began the Tarzan series in 1912 with the publication of “Tarzan of the Apes.” The character of Tarzan and the vivid world Burroughs created around him gained immense popularity, leading to an extensive series of novels.

Edgar Rice Burroughs was not initially a writer by profession. Before turning to writing, he held various jobs, including stints in the military and business. It wasn’t until the age of 35, while working as a pencil sharpener wholesaler and reading pulp fiction magazines, that Burroughs decided to try his hand at writing. He believed he could produce stories just as entertaining as those he read in the magazines. This decision marked the beginning of a highly successful writing career, with Tarzan being his most famous creation.

“Tarzan of the Apes” tells the story of a young boy, John Clayton, the son of British aristocrats, who is marooned on the western coast of Africa and raised by a tribe of apes. Tarzan, as he is named by the apes, grows up in the jungle, developing physical strength, agility, and the ability to communicate with animals. The novel is a captivating tale of survival, identity, and the clash between civilization and the natural world. Tarzan’s character embodies a noble savage archetype, living in harmony with nature yet drawn to the civilized world he was born into.

The success of the first Tarzan novel led Burroughs to write numerous sequels. In total, he wrote 24 Tarzan books, expanding the character’s adventures and delving deeper into his life and the fantastical world he inhabits. The Tarzan series explores various themes, including environmentalism, the tension between nature and civilization, and the concept of innate nobility.

Burroughs’ Tarzan books were groundbreaking for their time, creating a unique blend of adventure, fantasy, and action in a lush, exotic setting. The character of Tarzan became a cultural icon, symbolizing the untamed and primal aspects of humanity juxtaposed with the refined, cultured traits of modern civilization.

The popularity of the Tarzan stories went beyond the printed page, extending into films, radio plays, television shows, and comic strips, making Tarzan one of the most recognized and enduring characters in popular culture. The first Tarzan film was made in 1918, and since then, the character has been portrayed by numerous actors in various adaptations, further cementing his place in the collective imagination.