Tarzan The Apes & The Return of Tarzan - Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan of the Apes (1912) and The Return of Tarzan (1913) are classic adventure novels written by the American author Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes was first published as a magazine serial in 1912 before being released as a book, while The Return of Tarzan followed in 1913. This CloudClassics edition presents the first two of tweleve novels in Tarzan's adventures.

Lord and Lady Greystroke from England are lost at sea, and their lives change forever. Their son, Tarzan, is raised by an ape named Kala in the African jungle. As Tarzan grows up, he must fight to earn his place among the apes while learning to survive in the wild. Later, he meets a group of white explorers and a beautiful young woman for the first time. Until then, Tarzan has only known apes and the African tribes living in the jungle, so he is surprised to see people who look different from anyone he has ever met but has a skin color as his own. Their arrival changes Tarzan's life and makes him question who he really is.

I cannot say much about the second book because I do not want to spoil the story. In the sequel, Edgar Rice Burroughs moves away from his experiment, but focuses on a classic adventure story. Tarzan returns to Africa, but before that he travels through Arab lands. Along the way, he becomes involved in an exciting intrigue that includes a beautiful Russian countess. The novel is full of action, adventure, and unexpected twists. 

The novel also helped spread stereotypes about African tribes. It often describes Africa as a wild and dangerous place where the people are primitive or violent. However, these ideas came more from colonial adventure stories than from real history. In reality, many African societies were well organized and had rich cultures. Therefore, while Tarzan of the Apes is an exciting adventure novel, modern readers should remember that its portrayal of Africa is biased and does not accurately represent African people or cultures.

“If you are a man, you will return to protect your kind. You will not run away from one of your own people, because one of them has run away from you.” (D'Arnott to Tarzan)

I think one of the most interesting parts of Tarzan of the Apes is that Tarzan naturally chooses to do good things, even though nobody truly teaches him morality. He grows up in the jungle among apes, without human education or society, yet he still protects people, shows kindness, and avoids hurting humans he sees as his own kind. It feels like goodness comes naturally from inside him. Perhaps Edgar Rice Burroughs wanted to show that Tarzan is noble by nature, not because civilization taught him to be civilized. That is why many readers see him not only as a jungle man, but also as a naturally good person.

“You are free now, Jane,” he said, “and I have come across the ages out of the dim and distant past from the lair of the primeval man to claim you—for your sake I have become a civilized man—for your sake I have crossed oceans and continents—for your sake I will be whatever you will me to be. I can make you happy, Jane, in the life you know and love best. Will you marry me?”

In conclusion, I probably expected too much from this novel from a literary perspective, but the story itself is simple and enjoyable. I like the way Edgar Rice Burroughs romanticizes Tarzan's adventure. Tarzan's love letter to Jane is almost impossible to believe, it is far too poetic for someone who has never formally learned grammar or writing. However, the best way to enjoy Tarzan of the Apes is not to expect complete realism, since Tarzan is portrayed as a superhuman with extraordinary intelligence, I chose to accept it as part of the novel's fantasy. As a romantic adventure story, I give this novel  3,5 stars of Five, and I think I don't need to read the third book.  

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬ ✬(3,5/5)

Title :  Tarzan The Apes & The Return of Tarzan

Author : Edgar Rice Burroughs

Publisher : CloudClassic (Canterbury Classics)
Year :  October, 2015 (First Published in 1912 )
Format / Pages : Softcover / 467 pages
ISBN :  1626864705

Review: Alias Grace - Margaret Atwood

Historical Context : based on the mysterious real-life murders of Thomas Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery, in 1843, Canada. Both James McDermott and Grace Marks were also real people.

In the year 1859, Grace Marks, a convicted murderess in the eyes of the people of Kingston, is still imprisoned after eight years. She now works as a servant in the house of the prison governor as a seamstress, making quilt. Grace and James McDermott were accused of murdering Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery. In Chapter 2, the public version of the murders is presented through a poem, which portrays Grace as a jealous and manipulative woman who persuaded McDermott to commit the crimes.

However, the truth about Grace’s involvement remains uncertain. Grace herself claims that she cannot clearly remember what happened because the events took place when she was still young and traumatized. Into this mystery comes Dr. Simon Jordan, an American doctor who becomes interested in Grace’s mental condition and begins interviewing her in hopes of discovering whether she is truly guilty, innocent, or psychologically disturbed.

The difference between Dr. Bannerling and Dr. Simon Jordan’s examinations is important because it shows the contrast between the old and modern approaches to mental health, which was still uncommon in Canada at that time. Dr. Bannerling treats Grace harshly and quickly judges her as dangerous or insane, while Dr. Simon Jordan tries to understand her mind, memories, and trauma more carefully. Through their different methods, Grace Marks becomes both a mental health study case, whether she is truly insane or sane, and also a criminal case that continues to question whether she is really guilty of the murders or not. Because of Grace’s good behavior while working in the governor’s house, some people there begin to believe that she deserves justice and another chance in life and return to society.

I am enjoying this novel very much. Through this story, Margaret Atwood wants readers to see how difficult life was for women at that time. Women often became victims of men’s selfishness and social power. I feel sympathy for Nancy Montgomery and Mary Whitney though Dr. Simon Jordan himself finds it difficult to prove whether Mary Whitney was truly a real person or only part of Grace’s memories and imagination. They aretruly victims, but not completely innocent, they do not fully understand how dangerous the world is, especially for poor women at that time. They are easily influenced by men and emotional decisions.

Atwood also intentionally makes Grace an unreliable narrator, so readers can never be completely certain about what is true, Compared to Nancy and Mary, Grace seems more intelligent, careful, and better at surviving because she observes people closely and hides her true thoughts.

The novel is based on true events, and we can search what happened at the end of the real case. But, I feel bewitched by Grace. Margaret Atwood makes her mysterious and sympathetic, so it is hard not to care about her. Even though the truth is still uncertain, I feel Grace deserved a better.

I almost forgot to mention the quilt patterns. They become an important symbol throughout the whole novel.

And since that time I have thought, why is it that women have chosen to sew such flags (quilts) and then to lay them on the tops of beds? For they make the bed the most noticeable thing in a room. And then I have thought, it’s for a warning. Because you may think a bed is a peaceful thing, Sir, and to you it may mean rest and comfort and a good night’s sleep. But it isn’t so for everyone; and there are many dangerous things that may take place in a bed. It is where we are born, and that is our first peril in life; and it is where the women give birth, which is often their last. And it is where the act takes place between men and women that I will not mention to you, Sir, but I suppose you know what it is; and some call it love, and others despair, or else merely an indignity which they must suffer through. And finally beds are what we sleep in, and where we dream, and often where we die. 

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬✬ (5/5)

Title :  Alias Grace

Author : Margaret Atwood

Publisher : Anchor Books
Year :  1997 (First Published in 1996 )
Format / Pages : Softcover / 468 pages
ISBN :