Edgar Rice Burroughs

The Outlaw of Torn: by the Creator of Tarzan of the Apes Edgar Rice Burroughs

"The Outlaw of Torn" is a historical novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, creator of Tarzan. It was his second novel (his first being the science fiction work "A Princess of Mars," and his third being "Tarzan of the Apes.") The story is set in 13th century England and concerns the fictitious outlaw Norman of Torn, who purportedly harried the country during the power struggle between King Henry III and Simon de Montfort. Norman is the supposed son of the Frenchman de Vac, once the king's fencing master, who has a grudge against his former employer and raises the boy to be a simple, brutal killing machine with a hatred of all things English. His intentions are partially subverted by a priest who befriends Norman and teaches him his letters and chivalry towards women.