by William Burroughs

This is a Classic story that is familiar to most people, having seen some version of it on television, as a movie and even in cartoons. Tarzan is iconic, but reading the original story really opened my eyes to the genius of the source material.

The writing itself is beautiful. I started reading and found it hard to stop because I was instantly transported into the story and the trials of Lord Greystoke and his wife as they became shipwrecked. The transition to the world of the apes and the interaction of the creatures of the jungle was so smooth that I was lost in the story for several chapters before I knew what had happened!

A large part of the story has been left out of film versions and I found the story more realistic with these plot lines in place. Also, the story takes a real turn towards Romance which I never knew!

"Come back to me," she whispered. "I shall wait for you- always."

That line alone reminds me that this was written not so long after certain Victorian novels with a penchant for Romance. In the later part of the book, I got the real feel of the jungle through the eyes of a French soldier, to whom it is all new.

Tarzan's first experience of civilization is different than any film version I have seen, and quite interesting. I did have the feeling at the end that there would be more of the story to tell, but luckily the collection I have includes the direct sequel, The Return of Tarzan. I'll have to read it soon!

I don’t usually bother reviewing this series as they’re all pretty indistinguishable from each other: Manly men, breathtaking women, heroism, dastardly villains, adventures galore, and scads of vintage racism, classism, and sexism. They’re good fun, but the heroes and heroines are all interchangeable. It doesn’t matter if it’s about John Carter and Deja Thoris or Carthoris and Thuvia or Gahan and Tara; it’s all basically the same Barsoomian stuff on different Barsoomian days. But the comfort of familiarity is one of the big reasons we love our genre fiction, so hooray for sameness. :)

I'm not sure why this one was marked fantasy, but, whatever works. :  )

Burroughs is always a fun read.

I can't decide if Capt. John Carter is just lucky or if he really is that good.

A little of both I think.

Knock me sideways, that last third made this so much better than I expected.

It IS full of "whiteman's burdeen", and "fair for it time" commentary, and "nobility breeds true" and all that chivarious "poor little woman" bullshit. But... BUT! That friendship with D'arnot! And all the intern exploration Jane does on her feelings for Tarzan. And through out all of the book, the fact that Clayton is NOT the asshole so many adaptations turn him into but a honestly good man (with a few very understandably petty moments).

Which totally makes the end a stake to the heart. I did not expect to, but it made me care.