Tarzan and the Golden Lion – Edgar Rice Burroughs (1923)
In this ninth installment of the Tarzan series, Edgar Rice Burroughs crafts a tale of greed, identity, and unlikely kinship. The story follows Tarzan after he adopts an orphaned lion cub with a rare golden coat, naming him Jad-bal-ja (“The Golden Lion”). Raised as Tarzan’s loyal companion, the lion becomes a formidable ally—until their bond is tested by human treachery.
The plot thickens when Tarzan encounters Esteban Miranda, a Spanish rogue who bears an uncanny resemblance to him. Miranda conspires with Flora Hawkes, a former Greystoke housekeeper, to impersonate Tarzan and plunder the lost city of Opar’s gold. Their scheme spirals into chaos as Miranda, trapped in his role, is captured by the Oparians and mistaken for the real Tarzan by the lovestruck high priestess La.
Meanwhile, Tarzan—accompanied by Jad-bal-ja and a resourceful orphan named Oswald—pursues the conspirators through treacherous jungles and volcanic wastelands. The novel climaxes in Opar’s labyrinthine treasure vaults, where Tarzan confronts both Miranda and the city’s degenerate inhabitants.
Burroughs explores duality throughout: Tarzan’s civilized nobility versus Miranda’s cowardly cunning, and Jad-bal-ja’s wild instincts tempered by loyalty. The novel also reintroduces La, whose tragic obsession with Tarzan adds emotional depth to the swashbuckling adventure.
“A glittering saga where gold corrupts, lions reign, and no imposter can match the king of the jungle.”
