 The novel is set during World War II in Sumatra, Dutch East Indies.The term "foreign legion" does not refer to the French Foreign Legion, but is the name given in the book to a small international force (including Tarzan) fighting the Empire of Japan.The book was offered to "Argosy" magazine, in 1945, for serial publication, as per every Tarzan story previously, but the story was rejected by them and returned.