Tarzan and the Lost Empire – Edgar Rice Burroughs (1929)
In this 13th installment of the Tarzan series, Edgar Rice Burroughs catapults his jungle lord into a hidden world of Roman antiquity frozen in time. The novel follows Tarzan as he investigates the disappearance of Erich von Harben, the son of a German professor, who vanished while searching for a mythical city in East Africa. His quest leads him to the Castra Sanguinarius and Castrum Mare, twin remnants of the Roman Empire that have thrived in isolation for centuries, complete with gladiators, legions, and imperial intrigue.
Tarzan infiltrates the empire as a slave, rising through the ranks of the arena with his unmatched combat skills. He befriends Marcus Crispus Sanguinarius, a nobleman plotting to overthrow the corrupt Emperor Sublatus, and Victrix, a fierce female gladiator who becomes his ally. The political machinations escalate into open rebellion, with Tarzan’s jungle tactics pitted against Roman discipline in a climactic siege.
Burroughs brilliantly juxtaposes Tarzan’s primal prowess with the decadence of a dying empire, exploring themes of cultural stagnation and the cyclical nature of history. The novel stands out for its vivid world-building and the audacity of its premise—where the ape-man becomes a gladiator, a revolutionary, and ultimately, the catalyst for change.
“Rome fell once—and in the heart of Africa, Tarzan ensures it falls again.”
