Tarzan of the Apes

Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs (1912)

An English nobleman's infant son, orphaned in the African jungle, is raised by great apes and becomes the Lord of the Jungle. Tarzan — one of fiction's most enduring characters, spawning the most successful franchise of the early 20th century.

Historical Significance:
Edgar Rice Burroughs, a 36-year-old failed businessman, wrote Tarzan of the Apes in 1911 while working as a pencil sharpener wholesaler. Published in All-Story Magazine in October 1912, it was an immediate sensation. Burroughs went on to write 24 Tarzan novels, but the character's cultural footprint extends far beyond the books — over 200 films, TV series, radio shows, comics, and merchandise made Tarzan one of the most recognized fictional characters in the world. The famous Tarzan yell (created for Johnny Weissmuller's 1932 film) is one of the most iconic sounds in cinema history. Tarzan has been translated into more than 60 languages.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1912. Free to read and share.