From School Library Journal
Gr 8 Up-In this look at the writer's life, Burroughs comes off as somewhat of a reprobate and dilettante. Boerst makes repeated references to his subject's discipline problems and impulsiveness. Writing, as it turns out, provided Burroughs with a perfect way to channel his abundant energy and imagination and to support his family. Although the author has done a great deal of research, as evidenced by the appended chapter notes, they are not referenced in the text even when a lengthy section is quoted. The text is riddled with dates yet it is not organized chronologically, thus contributing to readers' confusion. Good-quality, black-and-white pictures, mostly full-page portraits, appear throughout. A look at Burroughs's critics and legacy is appended. Boerst may have gotten down the facts, but his account lacks a lively approach and isn't likely to appeal to his subject's many fans.-Marilyn Fairbanks, Azure IRC, Brockton High School, MACopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
From the publisher's World Writers series, this volume surveys the life and work of Edgar Rice Burroughs, best known as the creator of Tarzan. Burroughs, who was born in 1875, tried a number of jobs, from office work and retail sales to ranching and gold mining, before finding success as a writer. Boerst chronicles Burroughs' personal life and professional career in this succinct biography. Appendixes include an analysis of Burroughs' writing style, which has been criticized for its formulaic plots and stereotypical characters; a glossary; bibliographies; and source notes. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

FROM THE CRITICS

Children's Literature

Burroughs did not know what he wanted to do with his life. Before he married, he spent time at military school, with his brothers on their ranch in Idaho, and working for his father in Chicago. After marrying, he continued to jump from job to job. During one of his jobs, he started reading magazines called "Pulps"￯﾿ﾽlow budget magazines printed on cheap paper. The idea came to him that he could write stories as horrible as the ones that he had been reading, and thus, Mr. Burrows began his writing career. He wrote fantasy stories for the magazine readers. In 1912 he wrote a story called, "Tarzan of the Apes." The story was such a big success that it changed his life forever. This biography is well written, interesting, and reveals how Burroughs' life changed as he accumulated wealth from his writing. The author has also written biographies of H. G. Wells and Isaac Asimov. 2000, Morgan Reynolds, $19.95. Ages 12 to 14. Reviewer: Nicole Peterson

VOYA

Referring to Edgar Rice Burroughs as Ed, Boerst's biography uses simple language, many photographs, and personal details to chronicle the rebellious childhood, impulsive lifestyle, and tumultuous marriages that inspired and necessitated Burroughs's writing. Boerst acknowledges that Burroughs diminished his works with coincidences and his own prejudices but also praises the creative mind that birthed an ever-popular jungle king and futuristic ideas such as the automatic pilot and parachutes. The glossary that defines some common as well as technical terms will help even the youngest readers understand Burroughs's innovative literary and financial choices. The bibliography directs the more mature reader to print and Internet sources. An interesting appendix outlines Burroughs's supposed plot formula that would be fun to test with a Burroughs story or use to create a story. The World Writers series is a good starting point for middle and junior high school researchers in both English and history classes. It provides clear and concise frameworks of information that will help students access and understand more complicated and opinionated sources about the authors. Although to date no minority authors are profiled in the series, other volumes discuss H. G. Wells, Bram Stoker, Elizabeth Cary, and Mary Shelley. Glossary. Index. Illus. Photos. Biblio. Source Notes. Further Reading. Appendix. VOYA CODES: 3Q 2P M J (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2000, Morgan Reynolds, 112p. PLB . Ages 12 to 15. Reviewer: Lucy Schall SOURCE: VOYA, June 2001 (Vol. 24,No. 2)

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-In this look at the writer's life, Burroughs comes off as somewhat of a reprobate and dilettante. Boerst makes repeated references to his subject's discipline problems and impulsiveness. Writing, as it turns out, provided Burroughs with a perfect way to channel his abundant energy and imagination and to support his family. Although the author has done a great deal of research, as evidenced by the appended chapter notes, they are not referenced in the text even when a lengthy section is quoted. The text is riddled with dates yet it is not organized chronologically, thus contributing to readers' confusion. Good-quality, black-and-white pictures, mostly full-page portraits, appear throughout. A look at Burroughs's critics and legacy is appended. Boerst may have gotten down the facts, but his account lacks a lively approach and isn't likely to appeal to his subject's many fans.-Marilyn Fairbanks, Azure IRC, Brockton High School, MA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

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