Tarzan of the Apes

“Tarzan of the Apes” The story begins with John and Alice Clay, Viscount, and Lady Greystoke from England, who are marooned in the western coastal jungles of Equatorial Africa in 1888. Their son, John Clayton II, is born in this wild environment. Unfortunately, his mother dies, and soon after, his father was killed by the savage king ape, Kerchak. The infant is adopted by the she-ape widow, Kala, who names him “Tarzan” (meaning “White Skin” in the ape language). Raised in ignorance of his human heritage, Tarzan grows up among the apes. As a boy, he discovers his true parent’s cabin, where he learns about humans through books. Despite never having heard spoken English, he teaches himself to read it. Tarzan becomes a skilled hunter and eventually kills Kerchak, taking his place as the “king” of the apes. Later a tribe of black Africans settles in the area, and Tarzan’s adopted mother, Kala is killed by one of its hunters. This event leads to an antagonistic relationship between Tarzan and the tribe. This book was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs and is the first book in the Tarzan series. It was published in 1914 by the A. L. Burt Company.