Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan of the Apes: The Original 1914 Edition Edgar Rice Burroughs

Known as a classic within the adventure genre, Tarzan of the Apes by American author Edgar Rice Burroughs follows the story of a man raised by apes in the jungle. Published in 1914, this novel is the first in a series of twenty-four books that tells of Tarzan and his encounters with other humans, other societies, and even his own identity. Along with Tarzan of the Apes, Burroughs wrote science fiction and fantasy stories that all include the theme of adventure.




In Tarzan of the Apes, Lord and Lady Greystoke sail to Africa in 1888, but a mutiny on their ship leaves them stranded. In hopes that they will be rescued, John Clayton builds a cabin in the jungle while his pregnant wife, Alice, prepares to give birth. When their son is only one, Alice dies suddenly and John is killed by a gorilla named Kerchak who leads a band of apes. Kala, a female gorilla mourning the loss of her child, saves the baby and names the boy Tarzan, which means "white skin." The apes raise Tarzan without revealing his human heritage, but Tarzan always feels alienated and different from his family because of their physical differences. When Tarzan finds the cabin where he was born and begins to teach himself English, things begin to change. Throughout his life, Tarzan strives to build himself into a skilled hunter and even teaches himself to read English, but he continues to chase after an identity that he's never known.




With curiosity, danger, and romance, Tarzan of the Apes is a classic, compelling tale that will keep you reading and hoping for more.