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 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
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