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Tarzan of the Apes

Tarzan of the Apes

List Price: $42.00
Your Price: $42.00
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: More than Fantasy
Review: Edgar Rice Burroughs, now catalogued as a classic writer actually became instantly famous before this book with his Princess of Mars book published in 1912, while this book later in 1914. The story of a lost boy in the jungles of Africa where the parents are mauled and killed by Apes, and likewise, the son taken up and raised as one. If you are familiar either with the new Disney rendition or the Hollywood Johnny Weissemuller versions, then you just have not met Tarzan, Lord Greystoke. Both Hollywood and Disney do an injustice, not only to Burroughs, but also to the story and the writing. Embarking on this book, I expected a quick fun, high adventure story that gets to the point without finesse or care of the medium. But E. R. Burroughs gives you all the excitement with the careful delivery of choice words to put you there. There is a lot more emotion centered around this book than one may expect from a jungle adventure. Subtle, but poignant are his words and a visual clarity of the personalities and action make this a worthwhile read, and certainly a classic that can stand next to many other verbosely exaggerated popular classics (I am not mentioning Dickens).

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Noble Savage -- Numbskull Story -- Nice Start
Review: Edgar Rice Burroughs had bankrupted one business enterprise after another and was on the brink of financial ruin when he sat down to write his first book on the backs of the letterheads of his failed businesses. The story was the tale of "Tarzan of the Apes."

In "Tarzan" Burroughs displayed his total ignorance of Africa and his inability to recognize ridiculous plot twists. His first draft populated Africa with tigers (changed to panthers in later editions), and it abounded with impossible situations. Tarzan taught himself to read by staring at the pages of some books he found. Later, when he had occasion to write a note to some European interlopers into his domain, he signed his name to the note and gave it a correct phonetic spelling. Now how could he possibly know how to spell in a language he had never before heard spoken? Even as a child of 12, I could see the inconsistencies, improbabilities, and impossibilities of the story. Nevertheless, I read the book straight through at one sitting. Revisiting it as an adult, I could still enjoy the action-packed story.

Fortunately, Burroughs got better as he added to the corpus of Tarzan books, but he was never able to write a story completely free of improbable plot twists. Despite its shortcomings, "Tarzan of the Apes" is must reading for any Tarzan fan. Remember, Burroughs did get better as he wrote more stories.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The first of the world famous series
Review: This is a classic adventure story that can be enjoyed by all ages. One warning though-the treatment of blacks, although standard for the time, is jarringly alarming in our time. The story of the boy raised by an unknown species of ape (surviving prehistoric primates?) is well known but slightly tainted by numerous movies and tv shows that changed the image of Burroughs' creation. His discovery (and subsequent denial) of his true origins make a poignant story coupled with the standard romance with Jane. Other than the treatment of the native Africans, my only problem with this book is his self taught education. If Tarzan learned to read and write English from children's primers and his father's books, how did he learn to spell 'Kerchak'?

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: fond nostalgia of boyhood
Review: This is a great book for youngsters. It is a classic adventure story. Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote a great tale of adventure. I read this book in junior high school and then again in high school. I recently reread it again now in my thirties. It is still a compelling read. One grows to care for Tarzan of the Apes. The movies do not do it justice. The original is the best. A lot of the subsequent Tarzan novels do not measure up to this one. It is a bona fide classic of adventure fiction. It deserves a place next to works by Rider Haggard and Zane Grey. I find myself waxing nostalgic for youth gone by and Tarzan of the Apes is right there. A fun read at any age.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A Classic Novel
Review: Tarzan of the Apes was beautifully written. All the movies and shows do not justify the real Tarzan. I would recommend every one to read it at least once. It draws you into the deep savage heart of the African jungle and you feel like you are right next to Tarzan himself. The reason why I only gave it 4 stars and not 5 is because it ended, to me, unfinished like there was more to be said. But I thought that was brillant of Burroughs because it kept you guessing and made you want to buy the next book in the series.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best book I ever read
Review: This book is, without a doubt, the best I've ever read. Disney screwed up the book so bad its not even funny. They should not be able to do that. I think every one should read this book. I would think that they would like it. After reading the book it's almost as if you have been in the jungle. I would recommend this book to any one.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What a AWESOME book
Review: I read the book one week ago, the book is a wonderfully written book, the Disney got the book so wrong so if that is what you are expecting don't. The book is descriptive and if you think about it explains a lot about humanity and that is wonderful. You never want to put it down and when you get to the end you should read the Return of Tarzan by of course none other than Edgar Rice Burroughs. Those are the only two of the 24 or 25 book series that I have read I want to go on to book three!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A very good story. Might deserve 5stars.
Review: A very good story. None of the film adaptations come even close. All the films deviate from the story and none of them come with anything more moving or interesting than the original story. If you've been duped into believing that the Disney version or Greystoke the Legend of Tarzan are true to the book then you need to read this book and see what Tarzan is really all about. The characters are interesting and the action scenes are well written. The story is not deep, but it is compelling and the ending is perfectly bitter sweet. And if you must have a happy ending read The Return of Tarzan; it picks up exactly where Tarzan ends and concludes with a more Hollywood ending.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Leaves you wanting mor!
Review: I thought this book was excelent. I read it to compare it to the movies, and the movies don't even come close to being this good. The last words of the book will make you want to read the next book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Great Adventure Story
Review: Tarzan of the Apes is a great story and a very quick read. It's pretty different than all the movie versions. Tarzan is extremely intelligent(he teaches himself to read without knowing any English!) and a chivalrous gentleman. The book has a few things that may offend some people: treatment towards blacks, Jane's somewhat weak character, and the portrayal of the apes as brutal savages. But these things are a product of the period, and can be easily overlooked because they don't detract from the excellent story-telling. You will not be able to put this book down!


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