Tarzan and the Golden Lion

About this issue

This 1923 adventure novel by Burroughs follows Tarzan, his wife Jane, and their son Korak returning from the mysterious land of Pal-ul-don. The narrative opens with the death of a lion mother, Sabor, who attacks a black warrior who threatened her orphaned cub. Tarzan discovers the dying cub abandoned beside his mother's body and adopts him despite the animal's initial resistance, employing his unique ability to communicate with wild beasts. The orphaned lion, later named Jad-bal-ja, becomes central to the story. The novel combines adventure, animal narrative, and exploration themes characteristic of the Tarzan series, featuring Tarzan's connection with African wildlife and his role as custodian of the jungle. With twenty-one chapters including titles like "The Shaft of Death," "The Chamber of Horrors," and "The Diamond Hoard," the narrative promises treasure-hunting and danger involving antagonistic forces within the African wilderness.