Free Edgar Rice Burroughs books
Edgar Rice Burroughs books you can read online or download for free.
- TARZANEdgar Rice Burroughs
- John Carter of MarsEdgar Rice Burroughs
- Warlord of MarsEdgar Rice Burroughs
- Swords of MarsEdgar Rice Burroughs
- Thuvia Maid of MarsEdgar Rice Burroughs
About Edgar Rice Burroughs
Edgar Rice Burroughs was an American novelist whose imaginative adventure stories helped shape popular fiction in the twentieth century. He is best known for creating Tarzan, the jungle-raised hero who became one of the world's most recognizable fictional characters, and John Carter, the Earthman transported to the fantastical landscapes of Mars. Burroughs combined daring expeditions, lost civilizations, exotic environments, heroic survival, and speculative worlds in stories that captivated generations of readers. His work helped establish important traditions in adventure fiction, planetary romance, and early science fiction, inspiring later writers, filmmakers, and comic creators. Readers searching for Edgar Rice Burroughs books will find jungle adventures, interplanetary battles, prehistoric mysteries, and stories in which ordinary boundaries give way to extraordinary discoveries. His fiction remains significant for its imaginative scope and its lasting influence on popular adventure storytelling.
Early Life and Writing Career
Edgar Rice Burroughs was born on September 1, 1875, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Before achieving success as a writer, he experienced a varied working life that included military schooling, business ventures, and other employment. He turned to fiction in adulthood and published his first major success, Under the Moons of Mars, as a serial in 1912; it was later published in book form as A Princess of Mars. That same year, Tarzan of the Apes introduced the character who would become his most enduring creation. The popularity of these stories established Burroughs as a prolific author whose work appeared in magazines and books and later expanded into films, comics, radio, and other media. He died on March 19, 1950, in Encino, California, leaving a substantial body of adventure and speculative fiction.
Popular Books and Major Series
Edgar Rice Burroughs created several major fictional series. The Tarzan books begin with Tarzan of the Apes, which tells the story of a child raised by great apes in the African jungle who grows into an extraordinary survivor navigating both wilderness and human society. Subsequent novels expand Tarzan's adventures into unfamiliar territories, lost civilizations, and dangerous encounters. The Barsoom series, also known as the John Carter of Mars books, begins with A Princess of Mars, in which former Confederate soldier John Carter is mysteriously transported to Mars and becomes involved in conflicts between its inhabitants. Later books explore the planet's cultures, landscapes, creatures, and political struggles. Burroughs also wrote the Pellucidar series, which imagines a world inside the Earth, and the Caspak trilogy, which features a mysterious prehistoric environment. These interconnected adventures demonstrate his fascination with unexplored frontiers and extraordinary survival challenges.
Writing Style and Major Themes
Burroughs's writing is known for direct, energetic prose, dramatic situations, imaginative settings, and heroes who must adapt quickly to unfamiliar environments. His stories frequently place characters in isolated or dangerous worlds where courage, physical skill, observation, and resourcefulness determine survival. Recurring themes include exploration, civilization versus wilderness, identity, loyalty, discovery, and the limits of human knowledge. His planetary romances helped popularize the idea of Earth characters entering alien worlds filled with distinctive landscapes, rival societies, and unfamiliar creatures. His jungle adventures similarly used wilderness settings to test assumptions about strength, social status, and belonging. Some aspects of his portrayals of race, colonialism, and non-Western societies reflect the historical attitudes of his era and are worth considering when reading his work today.
Why Read Edgar Rice Burroughs Books?
Edgar Rice Burroughs is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy classic adventure fiction, jungle stories, planetary romance, lost civilizations, and early science fiction. Tarzan of the Apes is a natural starting point for readers interested in the origins of the famous jungle hero, while A Princess of Mars introduces John Carter's imaginative interplanetary adventures. Readers who enjoy exploring unusual settings can also investigate the Pellucidar novels. His books offer a valuable look at the development of popular adventure storytelling and the imaginative foundations of many modern fantasy and science fiction conventions.
Read Edgar Rice Burroughs Books Online
Discover Edgar Rice Burroughs's classic novels, including the Tarzan adventures, the John Carter of Mars series, the Pellucidar books, and other imaginative journeys. Begin with Tarzan of the Apes for a landmark jungle adventure or choose A Princess of Mars for a journey into planetary romance. Whether you want to read Edgar Rice Burroughs books online, explore his novels in publication order, or discover the roots of modern adventure and science fiction, browse the available titles and choose your next classic read.