Publisher's Synopsis
Edgar Rice Burroughs, the name conjures images of swashbuckling heroes, exotic locales, and thrilling adventures. But before the creation of Tarzan and John Carter, there was a young man growing up in the bustling city of Chicago, a life far removed from the jungles of Africa or the crimson deserts of Mars. Understanding the making of this literary giant requires a journey into his early years, a journey that reveals the formative influences shaping his unique vision and the seeds of his extraordinary creativity.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 1, 1875, Edgar Rice Burroughs was the son of George Tyler Burroughs and his wife, Maude Mee Burroughs. His childhood, while not marked by extreme hardship, wasn't exactly idyllic either. His father, a successful businessman, instilled in young Edgar a strong work ethic and a sense of independence, yet the family's life was not without its challenges. The Burroughs family, while comfortably middle-class, wasn't wealthy. They experienced periods of financial stability and fluctuations, exposing the young Burroughs to the realities of economic insecurity that would later find their way into his narratives. This exposure provided a nuanced understanding of both privilege and the struggle for survival, a dichotomy subtly present in his later works.
