I read this book from Penguin's series of Boys Adventures. My two previous books, She by Haggard and The Lost World by Conan Doyle both featured lost civilizations. Tarzan of the Apes doesn't, but even though it was a very different book, I really enjoyed it.
For one, Tarzan of the Apes is nothing like the Tarzan story I picked (without ever seeing one) up from the movies. The story was well written, starting with the trials and tribulations of Tarzan's parents, moving to his youth, the arrival of Jane and her group, and Tarzan's move to civilization.
Besides a good story it is also a great display of its time. Especially the Nature vs. Nurture debate rages in the background which for me added an extra dimension to this story. ( )

http://www.book-blog.com/2009/12/burr... ( )

Well-written classic literature. Much better than his sci-fi. ( )

This is a boys' book and reminded me of the Rover Boys books I read as a child. It is said to be Burroughs' best book out ot the some 70 he wrote. It is mighty fantastic, but it is neat to see Tarzan triumphing over all the bad guys, without too much effort. It has also been named as the fifth best book of the 1910s, which is hard to believe. It is easy to read, but pretty fantastic. ( )

Definitely a dated classic, but wonderful for all that. I re-read it for The Pulp magazine group I'm in & am glad I did. You really want to read the next book, "The Return of Tarzan" immediately after since we're left with a cliff hanger.Burroughs hasn't aged as well as some authors, mostly because of his handling of PC subjects such as racism & sexism. It is too easy to see the outward signs of both in his books, but careful reading shows that while he may have catered to the views of the day, he didn't seem to really believe in the racism, in this book.For instance, the majority of blacks in this book are degenerate brutes. They're a tribe of barbaric cannibals who killed the 'mother' of our hero, though. They have the misfortune to have a society that Burroughs denigrates at every opportunity. Esmeralda, Jane's servant/confidant/nanny, is also an object of humor, but then so is her father & his secretary/companion. All are caricatures, as is Tarzan himself. When it comes right down to it, Burroughs makes a point that fingerprints from an ape might be simpler, but there was no difference between those of a black & a white. This admission of equality of physical evolution wasn't common in his day. He treats the white pirates the same way as the black tribesman - they're bad guys & so contemptible. The story hinges on coincidence & stupid, heroic restraint consistently & that doesn't do it any favors nor did the cliff hanger ending. Still, it was a fun read & I'd highly recommend it to anyone. Tarzan has been so warped by movies, TV & add-ons that it's nice to see the original. ( )