The Cave Girl

Lore & Background

The novel's first part, The Cave Girl, began in February 1913 and was published by All-Story in July, August, and September 1913. The second part, The Cave Man, began in 1914 and was published by All-Story Weekly throughout March and April 1917. The book version was first published by A. C. McClurg on March 21, 1925. In August 1949, Dell Paperback published a version with a map captioned 'Wild Island Home of Nadara the Cave Girl Where Violence and Bloodshed Rule.'

Reader's Guide

The Cave Girl is a typical Burroughs adventure yarn, as described by Floyd C. Gale of Galaxy Science Fiction in 1963. It was among the rarest of Burroughs's books before being reprinted. The novel's copyright has expired in the United States, placing it in the public domain. Its significance lies in its exploration of a civilized man's adaptation to primitive life and the romance that bridges two worlds, themes common in Burroughs's work. The story also reflects early 20th-century attitudes toward evolution, class, and gender roles.

Did You Know?

• The novel was originally published as two separate stories: The Cave Girl in 1913 and The Cave Man in 1914–1917.
• The 1949 Dell Paperback edition included a map captioned 'Wild Island Home of Nadara the Cave Girl Where Violence and Bloodshed Rule.'
• The protagonist Waldo Emerson Smith-Jones is a blueblooded mama's boy who becomes a capable survivor on a jungle island.
• The copyright for The Cave Girl has expired in the United States and now resides in the public domain.