Tarzan Triumphant – Edgar Rice Burroughs (1931)
In this 15th installment of the Tarzan series, Edgar Rice Burroughs thrusts his iconic hero into a collision of civilizations, faith, and savagery. The novel opens with Tarzan encountering a group of European missionaries, including the courageous Barbara Collis, who are determined to bring Christianity to the remote African tribe of the Guebres—descendants of ancient Persian Zoroastrians. Their peaceful mission is shattered when the region is overrun by the shiftas, a ruthless band of slave-trading outlaws led by the vicious Abdul Mourak.
Tarzan’s intervention becomes a gripping balancing act: protecting the missionaries without undermining their autonomy, while also confronting the Guebres’ own violent traditions. The story escalates when Lady Barbara is captured, forcing Tarzan to infiltrate the shiftas’ stronghold in a pulse-pounding rescue mission. Alongside his loyal ape ally Akut and a vengeful Arab chieftain, Ibn Jad, Tarzan navigates treachery, tribal warfare, and even a volcanic eruption.
Burroughs uses the clash of cultures to explore themes of colonialism, religious zeal, and cultural relativism—asking whether “civilization” is truly superior to the jungle’s code. The novel stands out for its nuanced female characters (a rarity in early Tarzan tales) and its explosive set pieces, including a daring escape across a lava flow.
“A battle for souls as much as survival—where Tarzan becomes the bridge between worlds, yet belongs to none.”
