Tarzan, Edgar Rice Burroughs’s archetypal jungle hero, is generally placed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The main book series begins around the 1880s, with the first novel, Tarzan of the Apes (1912), covering his upbringing and early adulthood. Later novels extend into the 1910s, and some radio serials and comics of the 1930s implicitly align with this window. The core setting remains anchored in the 1880s–1910s, predating World War I and reflecting the pulp adventure era in which the character emerged. This article explains the novel-era timeline, key publication milestones, and how adaptations map to these dates.
The Original Novel Timeline
Burroughs’s novels present a continuous timeline anchored in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, beginning with Tarzan’s childhood and culminating in his encounters with European and American society. Because the books rarely cite specific years, scholars rely on internal clues—technologies, historical events, and age progression—to estimate when the stories unfold. The earliest novels cover Tarzan’s teenage years through his first encounters with Jane Porter, while later volumes follow him into adulthood and eventual maturity as a leader of the jungle.
Key Burroughs Novels and Estimated Setting Years
| Novel | Publication Year | Estimated In-Universe Setting | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarzan of the Apes | 1912 | c. 1888–1890 (childhood to early adulthood) | Covers Tarzan’s upbringing and first meeting with Jane |
| The Return of Tarzan | 1913 | c. 1890–1896 | Adulthood in Europe and reunion with Jane |
| Jungle Tales of Tarzan | 1916–1917 | c. 1897–1901 | Episodic adventures during Tarzan’s prime |
| Tarzan the Untamed | 1919 | c. 1905–1906 | Set during World War I-era Africa |
| Tarzan and the Golden Lion | 1923 | c. 1910–1912 | Post-war continuation of Tarzan’s legacy |
Context from the Pulp Era
Published between 1912 and the 1950s, the Tarzan books reflect early 20th-century pulp sensibilities. Technologies such as repeating rifles, early automobiles, and biplanes appear, yet the timelines remain anchored in the pre–World War I world through the 1910s. Tarzan’s age, family milestones, and colonial interactions fit within this timeframe. While some later installments feel timeless, readers can anchor them to the 1880s–1910s by noting technological references and political backdrops mentioned in the text.
Adaptations and Their Period Settings
Film, radio, and comic adaptations often adjust dates to match mid-20th-century production contexts or contemporary expectations. Classic serials from the 1930s and 1940s sometimes present anachronistic tech or vague timelines. The 1984 film Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes explicitly sets his childhood in the 1860s–1870s, while many later Hollywood films compress the timeline into a generic late-19th/early-20th-century backdrop. Understanding the original novels helps distinguish which period details stem from Burroughs’s world and which are modern reinterpretations.
Notable Period Details and Anachronisms
- Firearms: Early models resemble 1880s–1890s Winchester-era repeating rifles, consistent with late Victorian technology.
- Aviation: Fixed-wing aircraft appear only in later novels, aligning with real-world advances in the 1900s–1910s.
- Communications: Telegraphs are common; radios appear gradually after 1910, reflecting real deployment timelines.
- Colonial Context: References to British, French, and German East African territories mirror real geopolitical arrangements circa 1880–1914.
Why the Timeline Can Be Unclear
Burroughs rarely provides exact dates, leading to varied fan and scholarly interpretations. Different translators, series continuations, and media reboots introduce divergences. Because the question in what year was Tarzan set returns frequently in research, it helps to anchor the answer in the core novels and note where adaptations diverge. The consistent thread is a setting before World War I, with most key events occurring between the 1880s and the late 1910s.
How to Use This Information
When reading or teaching the novels, treat the 1880s–1910s as the default historical frame. For film or game projects, verify whether the adaptation intends strict period fidelity or a looser, modernized setting. Researchers can cross-reference technology mentions, colonial governance, and fashion cues to refine the estimated year range within this broader span. Keeping these distinctions clear prevents confusion between original text timelines and reinterpretations.