Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan Triumphant Illustrated Edgar Rice Burroughs

"Tarzan and the Raiders" was published as a six part serial in The Blue Book Magazine, October, November, December 1931 through January, February, March 1932. The working title was "The Triumph of Tarzan." It was started February 1931. It is Burroughs' thirty-eighth hardback book and the fifteenth Tarzan novel. The first edition was by Burroughs Inc. and featured dust jacket and illustrations by Studley Burroughs. Grosset & Dunlap, Tarzana, Ace, and Ballantine have done reprints. Robert B. Zeuschner's The Exhaustive Scholar's and Collector's Descriptive Bibliography. This novel has a great opening line: "As far as I know the first Earl of Whimsey has nothing to do with this story..." In the prologue Burroughs begins with the premise that fate and time are connected. In the first few chapters he adheres to this theory and establishes how the life of the epileptic Angustus will effect the lives of a small cadre of people two thousand-years later. In the middle portion of the novel this interweaving is not mentioned. It is referred to once more in the waning chapters, but it is ignored in the concluding chapter, which could have brought "Tarzan Triumphant" to a full circle and provided closure for his premise. Although Burroughs includes a slight tie-in with the previous novel, "Tarzan the Invincible," this is a stand-alone work. The core of the story revolves around the two Midian cities and their twisted form of Christianity. Burroughs uses biting satire on Christians who have warped the message of their religion and argue over inconsequential matters, which results in their division. Essentially, 'Triumphant' is a romance novel about two couple from diverse backgrounds who find each other. Tarzan is the connecting force to these elements, and he displays qualities which make him Lord of the Jungle.