Tarzan of the Apes

by John Freeman (Adaptation), Edgar Rice Burroughs

When Tarzan is orphaned as a baby deep in the African jungle, the apes adopt him and raise him as their own. By the time he's ten, he can swing through the trees and talk to the animals. By the time Tarzan is 18, he has the strength of a lion and rules the apes as their king. But Tarzan knows he's different and yearns to discover his true identity.

Genres: Fiction

204 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2001

About the author

Librarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
For other authors of this name, see:

John Freeman - English poet and essayist, 1880-1929

John Freeman - Book critic, Editor

John Freeman - British politician, diplomat, broadcaster, 1915-2014

Reviews

[Daniel Koen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! The story truly was "full." I was invited in early, sat with the author, and "restoratively" finished the last page as I exited the house.

Storytelling at its finest.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll confess. I've put off reading this book for 2 years because I can't stand the popular animated movie version of the book. But I have been so pleasantly surprised that I have given it 4 stars.

But, I don't understand the deeper meaning of the book. Forget the likelihood of the minute details, what was the author trying to express? Was it to say that one should look beyond mere physical attraction, or the thrill of the moment, when deciding upon a life long companion? Was it to say that a really gentleman seeks for the happiness of his lady above his our happiness, to the Nth degree? Or perhaps his point was to expose the fact that customs and conventionality prevented those in love to be together, mainly because of money and status in society.

I do think that he was trying to say that while we look at the beasts of the forest as uncontrolled and wild, we, as humans, are even more wild and uncontrolled, at times, than they.

How sad it was to me to see that a man was willing to go to the greatest extremes for a woman just to have her reject his willingness and offering. "It seemed to him that no pleasure on earth could compare with laboring for the welfare and protection of Jane Porter"

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a fun, quick read. Originally a 'pulp' story, meant to be read quickly and also be short and wild, so it certainly serves its purpose when you take that into consideration. It's not meant to be a deep read, but an entertaining one. Pure escapist fantasy.

Don't go in expecting it to be like the Disney movie, though, because it's most certainly not. It's darker and more violent, and Phil Collins will definitely not be singing in the background as you read this.

Of course, with the way this one ended, now I need to read the others in the series.

[Klawr]

It's...adapted. I guess it's okay for younger readers, but I always feel that if one isn't ready for the unabridged version of something, then one isn't ready for it. I need to find an unabridged version of Tarzan of the Apes. I currently own (and have read) the Barnes and Noble children's classic version.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It adds so much more to the Disney movie version. It was an excellent read. I hope my grandson can read it when he's older.

[Geriann Albers · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5