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Jungle Rock Blues
Raised by gorillas in the wild jungles of New Zealand, scarred in battles with vicious giant wetas, seduced by a beautiful young scientist, discovered by Memphis record producer Sam Phillips and adored by millions – the dirt-to-dreams life story of Caliban is as legendary as his 30 number one hits. That story came to a dramatic end in 1977 when Caliban took his own life.
But now, in a sensational new development, a manuscript, written in old age by Caliban himself, has emerged which proves that his story didn’t end there. At last we can know: why did he leave us? What did it all mean to him? And – for the first time – what did it feel like to be Caliban?
Each new book from Nigel Cox is a surprise. But Jungle Rock Blues is a wild, slow-motion astonishment. – Bill Manhire
Through its hypnotic fusing of two mythic lives this novel takes on some of the founding fables of our culture. In the guise of a joyous adventure story, it slyly poses questions about genius, fame, failure and love.
From its boldly funny opening page, the novel re-imagines the facts, and from then on the reader surrenders to one of the most extraordinary narrators in our literature: speculative, sexy, outlandish and tender. In a pulpy world, Jungle Rock Blues rewrites the lyrics of the familiar, giving us a wondrous new song.
Praise for Jungle Rock Blues:
...Nigel Cox's fourth novel has me jumping up and down excitedly because I can't believe how good it is. To take such an unlikely attention-getting idea and to develop it into such an intelligent book – it's like seeing someone suddenly make a successful film of Lord of the Rings in Miramar. ...This whole book rings true. It's superbly written and utterly original. – David Larsen, The NZ Herald
Nigel Cox was born in 1951 and died of cancer in 2006. One of the leading NZ writers of his generation, he was the author of six novels and an essay collection. For many years a bookseller at Unity Books Wellington and Auckland, he also had an important career in museum development as part of the project teams that created Te Papa and the Jewish Museum Berlin, where he spent five years, returning in 2005 to New Zealand and to Te Papa as Director–Experience.
Jungle Rock Blues, Nigel’s fourth novel, was released in 2004 to rave reviews from readers and critics, and was a runner-up at the 2005 Montana New Zealand Book Awards.
His fifth, Responsibility, was a runner-up in 2006, and his sixth, The Cowboy Dog, was published posthumously in 2006. Phone Home Berlin: Collected Non-Fiction appeared in 2007.
But now, in a sensational new development, a manuscript, written in old age by Caliban himself, has emerged which proves that his story didn’t end there. At last we can know: why did he leave us? What did it all mean to him? And – for the first time – what did it feel like to be Caliban?
Each new book from Nigel Cox is a surprise. But Jungle Rock Blues is a wild, slow-motion astonishment. – Bill Manhire
Through its hypnotic fusing of two mythic lives this novel takes on some of the founding fables of our culture. In the guise of a joyous adventure story, it slyly poses questions about genius, fame, failure and love.
From its boldly funny opening page, the novel re-imagines the facts, and from then on the reader surrenders to one of the most extraordinary narrators in our literature: speculative, sexy, outlandish and tender. In a pulpy world, Jungle Rock Blues rewrites the lyrics of the familiar, giving us a wondrous new song.
Praise for Jungle Rock Blues:
...Nigel Cox's fourth novel has me jumping up and down excitedly because I can't believe how good it is. To take such an unlikely attention-getting idea and to develop it into such an intelligent book – it's like seeing someone suddenly make a successful film of Lord of the Rings in Miramar. ...This whole book rings true. It's superbly written and utterly original. – David Larsen, The NZ Herald
Nigel Cox was born in 1951 and died of cancer in 2006. One of the leading NZ writers of his generation, he was the author of six novels and an essay collection. For many years a bookseller at Unity Books Wellington and Auckland, he also had an important career in museum development as part of the project teams that created Te Papa and the Jewish Museum Berlin, where he spent five years, returning in 2005 to New Zealand and to Te Papa as Director–Experience.
Jungle Rock Blues, Nigel’s fourth novel, was released in 2004 to rave reviews from readers and critics, and was a runner-up at the 2005 Montana New Zealand Book Awards.
His fifth, Responsibility, was a runner-up in 2006, and his sixth, The Cowboy Dog, was published posthumously in 2006. Phone Home Berlin: Collected Non-Fiction appeared in 2007.
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 4, 2017
This is one of the best books I've ever read.
March 5, 2025
My favourite NZ novel. Inventive and playful.
March 13, 2015
Just to avoid confusion, this book used to be called Tarzan Presley, but there was an objection to the use of the name Tarzan from the owners of the copyright and all other things in the Edgar Rice Burroughs estate.
So the name was changed and if you are very lucky and perhaps live in New Zealand, you may have bought an early copy of the book before they insisted on the change.
Given I have the original edition, I'm not sure if they insisted on more than just a change of title or if the changes went deeper throughout the whole book.
Anyone out there who has this edition may be able to help on that.
So the name was changed and if you are very lucky and perhaps live in New Zealand, you may have bought an early copy of the book before they insisted on the change.
Given I have the original edition, I'm not sure if they insisted on more than just a change of title or if the changes went deeper throughout the whole book.
Anyone out there who has this edition may be able to help on that.
October 4, 2015
Tarzan grows up in the New Zealand bush, fighting the wetas, then becomes Elvis, before 'dying' in 77 and hiding on the other side of the world.
Strange book, this. The first half is a bit silly, but the second is actually an interesting fictional memoir of Elvis - seeing his life from the inside.
A niche piece, I think.
Rated M for frequent nudity, sex scenes, drug use and some violence. 3/5
Strange book, this. The first half is a bit silly, but the second is actually an interesting fictional memoir of Elvis - seeing his life from the inside.
A niche piece, I think.
Rated M for frequent nudity, sex scenes, drug use and some violence. 3/5
January 4, 2014
A melding of fact and fiction which I found humoursly unsettling. The mashups of Tarzan and Elvis and New Zealand and the US is innovative and the characters vivid and likeable. Jungle Rock Blues made me curious about Elvis' life but did not leave me wanting more from Caliban.
May 24, 2011
Actually I meant to say I read Tarzan Presley... but this is the same edit, right? It's only the title that's changed? Actually probably Tarzan's name has changed too.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews