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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
After recently seeing The Legend of Tarzan in theaters I had to read the book again. This is one of my favorites..
There are some descriptions of killing and fights natural to the wilds of Africa that are a little gross. Also, the author wholeheartedly believes in evolution and the phrases "primeval man" and "primeval forest" are used quite frequently.
That said, anyone who enjoys cast-away adventure stories will enjoy Tarzan's growth from an infant raised by wild animals to adulthood with the beginnings of becoming a civilized English gentleman.
There are some descriptions of killing and fights natural to the wilds of Africa that are a little gross. Also, the author wholeheartedly believes in evolution and the phrases "primeval man" and "primeval forest" are used quite frequently.
That said, anyone who enjoys cast-away adventure stories will enjoy Tarzan's growth from an infant raised by wild animals to adulthood with the beginnings of becoming a civilized English gentleman.
This was the first non-picture book I ever read, probably when I was about five years old. In my youth I think I must have read it a half dozen times, and though I haven't opened it in decades, I still remember it fondly. It started me on a journey of pondering about concepts like nobility, honor, loyalty, and so forth. Subsequently, I read many of the other Tarzan novels written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, and then most of the Martian Tales series he wrote ("Warlord of Mars," etc.), and numerous other stand alone novels (such as The Outlaw of Torn, another favorite). I would recommend these for any boy interested in fantasy fiction.
Oh my. I picked this up from the shelf, strongly suspecting I was in for some post-victorian racism and ill conceived eugenics ... and I was absolutely right. Still, I thought it'd be interesting to see where the character came from, if for no other reason to see how he has evolved over the generations.
Regardless, I didn't actually finish the book. I got very close, to within four chapters of the ending, before I decided I was just done with it. This has nothing to do with the quality of the writing however. Burroughs was an excellent pulp writer and his prose moves along effortlessly. I just couldn't get past the conceits of the book.
There is this odd mixture of white supremacy (and class supremacy) combined with a romantic ideal of the "natural man" that echoes on to this very day in white culture. That Tarzan happened to be extraordinary is one thing, but the fact that Burroughs needs to remind us over and over that he is extraordinary because his breeding/pedigree is extraordinary takes this from an enjoyable fantasy to a head-shaking, groan inducing ordeal. The farther along the book goes, the harder he hammers this conceit, and by the time he manages to learn French without a couple of days I was incredibly DONE with it.
It's a well written book that for me was increasingly unpleasant and ultimately un-finishable.
So, as a historical curiosity, it's worth checking out, but your milage will vary greatly depending on your ability to wink and nod at problematic (albeit historically common and widespread) attitudes that are so deeply embedded in the genetic makeup of Tarzan of the Apes.
Regardless, I didn't actually finish the book. I got very close, to within four chapters of the ending, before I decided I was just done with it. This has nothing to do with the quality of the writing however. Burroughs was an excellent pulp writer and his prose moves along effortlessly. I just couldn't get past the conceits of the book.
There is this odd mixture of white supremacy (and class supremacy) combined with a romantic ideal of the "natural man" that echoes on to this very day in white culture. That Tarzan happened to be extraordinary is one thing, but the fact that Burroughs needs to remind us over and over that he is extraordinary because his breeding/pedigree is extraordinary takes this from an enjoyable fantasy to a head-shaking, groan inducing ordeal. The farther along the book goes, the harder he hammers this conceit, and by the time he manages to learn French without a couple of days I was incredibly DONE with it.
It's a well written book that for me was increasingly unpleasant and ultimately un-finishable.
So, as a historical curiosity, it's worth checking out, but your milage will vary greatly depending on your ability to wink and nod at problematic (albeit historically common and widespread) attitudes that are so deeply embedded in the genetic makeup of Tarzan of the Apes.
Amid a charmingly terrible understanding of his chosen setting (example - Burroughs seems to believe that 'ape' is a species, as distinct from gorilla, chimpanzee, etc), Burroughs constructs an absurd, laughably unbelievable tale.
Then, the last two chapters blew me away. They kicked my ass and called me Nancy. I had no idea Burroughs had it in him - it was like it was ghost-written by Hemingway or something. Seriously - if you can make it through the first twenty-six, the last two make it all worth your while.
Did I mention how bad his understanding of nature was? Lions roam singly and thickly in the densest, lushest part of Africa - I'd say there's about one per acre/one per chapter.
Tarzan, by the way, teaches himself to read English, from books - alone - no people, but cannot speak English. However, he can write his name. Don't think about that too hard. It'll make you less willing to accept all the other ridiculousness (like where bad guys decide to bury treasure. Yep, we got bad pirates burying treasure herein).
I'll leave you one more teaser if it will encourage you to read the book just to find out if I'm lying - the book ends in a train station just beyond the reaches of a forest fire. In WISCONSIN.
Check your brain at the door, and you'll enjoy the heck out of this book.
Then, the last two chapters blew me away. They kicked my ass and called me Nancy. I had no idea Burroughs had it in him - it was like it was ghost-written by Hemingway or something. Seriously - if you can make it through the first twenty-six, the last two make it all worth your while.
Did I mention how bad his understanding of nature was? Lions roam singly and thickly in the densest, lushest part of Africa - I'd say there's about one per acre/one per chapter.
Tarzan, by the way, teaches himself to read English, from books - alone - no people, but cannot speak English. However, he can write his name. Don't think about that too hard. It'll make you less willing to accept all the other ridiculousness (like where bad guys decide to bury treasure. Yep, we got bad pirates burying treasure herein).
I'll leave you one more teaser if it will encourage you to read the book just to find out if I'm lying - the book ends in a train station just beyond the reaches of a forest fire. In WISCONSIN.
Check your brain at the door, and you'll enjoy the heck out of this book.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Look, it hasn't aged well. Dinsey lied. But it is very much the classic adventure style book.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5/5
A most excellent read. For some reason, I had entirely forgotten that Tarzan had first appeared in book form a century ago until a friend recommended it to me a couple of days ago. I churned through the book in only a couple of days as I was transfixed by how good the story was, albeit with a lot of regrettable racist undertones which Burroughs is well known for. Oh well. Besides that, all but the final 50 pages are magnificent and exactly the type of action-packed story I love to read. I'm not sure how many of the 24 sequels I will read-as I've heard they're not all that great-but the first book has got me hooked already.
A most excellent read. For some reason, I had entirely forgotten that Tarzan had first appeared in book form a century ago until a friend recommended it to me a couple of days ago. I churned through the book in only a couple of days as I was transfixed by how good the story was, albeit with a lot of regrettable racist undertones which Burroughs is well known for. Oh well. Besides that, all but the final 50 pages are magnificent and exactly the type of action-packed story I love to read. I'm not sure how many of the 24 sequels I will read-as I've heard they're not all that great-but the first book has got me hooked already.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism