Tarzan of the Apes (1912) by Edgar Rice Burroughs is the groundbreaking adventure novel that introduced the world to one of literature’s most iconic heroes—Tarzan. The story begins with the aristocratic Greystokes, an English couple marooned in the African jungle, where their infant son is orphaned after their deaths. Adopted by a tribe of great apes, the boy is named Tarzan (“White Skin” in the ape language) and raised in the wild, developing extraordinary strength, agility, and survival skills.
As Tarzan grows, he discovers the hut of his human parents and teaches himself to read using their books. His dual nature—both savage and civilized—is tested when he encounters other humans, including the beautiful Jane Porter, sparking a conflict between his jungle instincts and his emerging humanity.
A thrilling blend of action, romance, and exploration of identity, Tarzan of the Apes became a cultural phenomenon, spawning numerous sequels and adaptations. Burroughs’ vivid imagination and fast-paced storytelling make this a cornerstone of early 20th-century adventure fiction.
