Tarzan of the Apes was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875 – 1950) in 1912 and was the first of the 22 Tarzan novels.  The novel introduces us to John and Alice Clayton also known as Lord and Lady Greystoke.  They were English nobility.  The Claytons were marooned in coastal Africa and sometime after, give birth to a baby boy.  Not long after the birth, both John and Alice are killed during an attack from wild apes.  The only survivor was the child, who was promptly adopted by a female ape named Kala.  The boy is named Tarzan, which in ape language means “White Skin”.

The boy grows up in the wilds of Africa with his adopted ape parents, not knowing his true heritage.  Because his different, he feels somewhat alienated.  After he grows, Tarzan finds the abandoned cabin of his dead parents and learns his true identity.  In the cabin, he discovers books and due to his extraordinary intelligence, he learns to read and write.  He also learns to become highly moral and honorable. 

Tarzan grows in stature and his hunting skills become superior to those of any ape.  He eventually becomes the leader of the ape clan.  Later, African tribesmen kill Tarzan’s adopted mother creating hostility between the ape clan and the local tribe.  Tarzan uses his superior intelligence and extraordinary skill to outwit the tribe on many occasions.  The tribe comes to respect and fear Tarzan.

One day, Tarzan meets other civilized humans, including Jane.  They teach him how to speak French fluently and he learns a great deal of the outside world.  He becomes Jane’s protector and saves her from danger on several occasions.  He falls in love with Jane and follows her to America, where he finds she is to be married to Tarzan’s human cousin.  A despondent Tarzan returns to Africa and his life among the apes.

The remaining books in the series describe the continued adventures of Tarzan.  Most of the stories take place in Africa, but Tarzan does travel to other areas of the world as well.  Tarzan of the Apes has been adapted to cinema on many occasions.  The original 1912 story has been made into no less than 7 different movies, starting with a silent movie in 1918.  Many of the other novels in the Tarzan series have also been made into movies.  Also, many movies not based on Burroughs work but containing the character, Tarzan have been made.  Well over 100 movies and television shows have been created based on the Tarzan character.

Tarzan of the Apes is a highly entertaining story that is still widely read today.  Tarzan has become, without a doubt, one of the most endearing and well known characters in American literary history.