Title: Tarzan of the Apes

Author: Edgar Rice Burroughs

Genre: Classics

Publisher: Arcturus

Format: Paperback

Pages: 224

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis:

In 1888 Lord and Lady Clayton sail from England but to West Africa and perish on a remote island. When their infant son is adopted by fanged, great anthropoid apes, he is Tarzan of the Apes. His intelligence and caring mother raise him to be king. Self-educated by his parents’ library, Tarzan rescues genteel Jane Porter from the perils of his jungle.

Review:

This book was interesting the whole way through! I loved watching the cartoon version of the story when I was younger, and never realized there was a classic work of literature that the movie was based off of until I found this beauty at Chapters this summer! And while there are differences to the movie, I loved the story this book told! The detail that the author goes into the set up the scenes is amazing! We as readers learn how his parents get stuck in the jungle, and the work it took to build a house that would try and keep them safe from the wild menacing animals of the jungle. The author also explains how Tarzan is able to communicate with the animals, as well as how he shows his dominance.

One aspect that I enjoyed reading about was how the author was trying to get across that the white people were not much different than the black people or the jungle animals; “They were evidently no different from the black men- no more civilized than the apes-no less cruel than Sabor.” I love this quote as it explains how when it comes down to it, we are all just animals. It does not matter the colour of your skin, humans can be cruel, and they can also show compassion.

If you are looking for a classic to get hooked on, this would be it!

Happy reading!