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Tarzan of the Apes
First published 1914 · 848 pages
A primal, pulse-pounding plunge into the untamed wilderness where feral survival collides with the awakening of the human heart.
What it feels like
Reading this classic adventure feels like swinging headlong into a fever dream of primal wilderness and Edwardian melodrama. The narrative moves with a propulsive, muscular energy, plunging you into a lush, unforgiving jungle where survival is a daily, visceral struggle. The prose is unapologetically pulpy and grand, painting a world of roaring beasts and blood-pumping action that taps directly into fantasies of absolute freedom. Yet beneath the roaring action lies a surprisingly poignant exploration of identity, as feral instinct collides with the sudden, disorienting arrival of human connection and romantic longing. It is a sweeping, larger-than-life experience that will delight readers who crave old-school, atmospheric escapism, provided they can navigate the era-typical colonialist attitudes woven into its DNA.
- Mood
- primal
- thrilling
- lush
- atmospheric
- Tone
- earnest
- melodramatic
- adventurous
- archaic
- Pace
- propulsive
- Themes
- nature versus nurture · the noble savage · civilization and wilderness · primal survival · forbidden romance
- The writing
- The writing is unapologetically pulpy and grand, blending visceral, muscular action sequences with the formal, slightly archaic melodrama of the Edwardian era.
- The arc
- The journey shifts from the visceral thrill of feral survival to the bittersweet, disorienting awakening of human consciousness and romantic longing.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave sweeping, old-school pulp adventures and larger-than-life tales of wilderness survival will devour this.
Content notes
- colonialist attitudes
- racism
- animal violence
- outdated depictions of indigenous peoples
About the book
Set amidst the vibrant colors and sounds of the savage African jungle, this classic work, rich in suspense and action, has beckoned generations of readers on a glorious journey to romance and pure adventure. This is the story of the ape-man Tarzan, raised in the wild by the great ape Kala, and how he learns the secrets of the jungle to survive -- how to talk with the animals, swing through the trees, and fight the great predators. As Tarzan grows up he makes many friends: Tantor the elephant, Ska the vulture, and Numa the lion. When this paradise is invaded by white men, Tarzan's life changes, for in this group is Jane, the first white woman he has ever seen. Speaking directly to our childhood fantasies, this exhilarating work takes us to that faraway place in our minds where dreams prevail, and where we, too, can be masters of our environment. - Back cover.
Description from Open Library.
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