Every Day With Edgar Rice Burroughs = May 1, 2025

 

May 1, 2025 and one hundred and six years ago on this day in 1919, Red Book published the third installment, “The Golden Locket,” of “Tarzan the Untamed.” As was Redbook’s policy at the time, the cover was a painting of a beautiful woman by Haskin Coffin. “The Golden Locket” had interior illustrations by Charles Livingston Bull, who did a total of 25 illustrations for the serialization of the novel.

Albert Payson Terhune contributed a story to the issue. The short story, “It Happened in China” by William Ashley Anderson had an interior illustration by J. Allen St. John.

Everything that you need to know about “Tarzan the Untamed,” its publishing history, an electronic version of the novel, and numerous illustrations abide at: https://www.erbzine.com/mag4/0493.html

The thing that I most remember about “Tarzan the Untamed,” is the body count. Tarzan believes that Jane has been murdered and his home has been burned by the German army. He embarks on a quest of revenge and kills every German soldier he can find and he finds a lot of them. The Red Book serialization of “Tarzan the Untamed” was combined with “Tarzan and the Valley of Luna” to make up what was published as the novel, “Tarzan the Untamed.” The tenor of the two halves is very different. The vengeful Tarzan of Untamed becomes a more contemplative and withdrawn person in “The Valley of Luna.” He decides to stop seeking vengeance and to abandon mankind and live in the jungle.

The drabble for today is “Vengeance is Mine,” and it was inspired by the novel, “Tarzan the Untamed.”

Tarzan tracked down Major Schneider, a German officer who Tarzan believed burned his home and killed Jane.

“My name is Tarzan, Lord Greystoke. You killed my wife. Prepare to die.”

Schneider struggled. “I understand that you seek revenge, but remember what the Bible says, “ Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord.”

“Agreed. Am I not the Lord of the Jungle?"

“Not the same. Are you going to kill me?”

Tarzan said, “No, I  won’t kill you, but like the Biblical Daniel, you’ll be thrown into the lion’s den.”

“That’s cruel.”

“I know. I hope you don’t make the lion sick.”