What is A Princess of Mars about?

A Civil War veteran is transported to Mars — sword-and-planet adventure that launched a genre.

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  1. 1The Enigmatic Hero: John Carter's Transformation
  2. 2Martian Society: A Complex Web of Cultures
  3. 3Love Against All Odds: The Romance of John Carter and Dejah Thoris
  4. 4The Nature of Honor and Warfare
  5. 5The Quest for Identity: A Soldier's Journey
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A glimpse inside

Illustration from A Princess of Mars
The Enigmatic Hero: John Carter's Transformation

John Carter, the protagonist, begins as a typical Earthman, a Confederate veteran with a sense of adventure. However, his journey to Mars transforms him into a figure of…

Martian Society: A Complex Web of Cultures

Burroughs intricately weaves a rich tapestry of Martian cultures, each with its own customs, languages, and social structures.

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About the author

Edgar Rice Burroughs

Edgar Rice Burroughs has 2 works free to read on Lumina, including Tarzan of the Apes.

All 2 books by Edgar Rice Burroughs

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