Buzz
Tarzan of the Apes is one of the most iconic figures in literary history. This jungle hero has been the central figure in 24 novels written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, along with official sequels by Fritz Leiber, Joe Lansdale, Philip Jose Farmer, Robin Maxwell, and Will Murray. His adventures have also been adapted into radio shows, comic strips, comic books, TV series, and numerous films.
Even with such widespread popularity, many fascinating aspects of this legendary character remain unknown. The original books are packed with intriguing and unusual details that rarely appear in adaptations. With the release of the new film The Legend of Tarzan in July 2016, it’s the perfect moment to revisit Tarzan as he was portrayed in the classic novels.
10. The Story Behind Tarzan’s Name
In Edgar Rice Burroughs' imaginative universe (depicted above), the great apes possess their own distinct language. In this primate tongue, “tar” translates to “white,” and “zan” means “skin.” Combine these, and you arrive at “Tarzan.” In the novels, Kala, Tarzan’s adoptive ape mother, bestows this name upon him after noticing his pale, hairless complexion.
However, Burroughs didn’t invent the name randomly. While residing in Chicago in 1910, he developed a fondness for the southern California neighborhood of Tarzana and even acquired property there. Years later, when crafting a name for the boy raised by apes, he drew inspiration from Tarzana. By removing the final vowel, he created a name that would become legendary.
Interestingly, the community wasn’t officially named Tarzana—or anything else—until it was incorporated and established a post office in 1930. This has fueled the urban legend that the town was named after the ape-man, but in reality, it was the opposite.
9. Tarzan Was Not Raised By Gorillas
It’s widely believed that Tarzan was raised by gorillas, a notion deeply embedded in popular lore. However, this is a widespread misconception, one that even several films have inaccurately portrayed.
In reality, Tarzan was raised by a fictional species of ape, unknown to science. These apes, while similar to gorillas in size and strength, exhibit distinct behaviors. They walk upright, hunt, consume meat, and possess their own spoken language. Known as the “mangani,” they are described by Burroughs as “huge,” “fierce,” and “terrible,” with intelligence surpassing that of gorillas. Their combination of intellect and power makes them “the most fearsome of these awe-inspiring progenitors of man.”
Gorillas, referred to as “bolgani” by the mangani, are not Tarzan’s caretakers. In fact, Tarzan encounters and battles these formidable creatures. In Tarzan of the Apes, Burroughs vividly recounts Tarzan’s first confrontation with a massive gorilla.
“He had barely taken a dozen steps into the jungle when a massive figure emerged from the shadows of the underbrush. At first, he assumed it was one of his own kind, but in an instant, he recognized it as Bolgani, the enormous gorilla.
With no opportunity to escape, young Tarzan understood he had to fight for his survival. These formidable creatures were the sworn enemies of his tribe, and neither side ever showed mercy.”
8. The Forgotten Civilizations
Before Edgar Rice Burroughs, other authors penned fantastical tales of Africa, many of whom influenced his work. Among the most notable was H. Rider Haggard, renowned for his vivid depictions of lost civilizations in works like She and King Solomon’s Mines.
Burroughs began writing four decades after Haggard, during a time when vast regions of Africa remained uncharted and unexplored. This allowed him to imagine the existence of undiscovered civilizations on the so-called “dark continent,” leading him to create over a dozen unique realms for Tarzan’s adventures.
One such realm is Opar, the last vestige of an ancient Atlantean colony. Inhabited by ape-like men and stunning women, Opar is also home to a hidden fortune of gold bars and precious gems. Tarzan often raids this treasure to restore his wealth. The name Opar may have been inspired by the biblical city of Ophir, known for its riches.
Another fascinating creation is the City of God, ruled by a British scientist who has transferred his consciousness into the body of a gorilla. This self-proclaimed “God” has also genetically enhanced a tribe of gorillas, granting them human intelligence and personalities reminiscent of Henry VIII and his court. This character may have influenced the DC Comics villain Gorilla Grodd.
These are just a few examples. In Tarzan and the Ant-Men, Tarzan encounters two rival cities populated by humans only 46 centimeters tall. In Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, he discovers a valley where 12th-century crusaders still reside. And in Tarzan Triumphant, he stumbles upon a city of religious zealots who view their epileptic seizures as divine blessings.
Other notable locations include Pal-ul-don, a city teeming with dinosaurs, and Xuja, a settlement of madmen who breed lions for food and worship parrots and monkeys. There’s also Kaji and Zuli, cities controlled by a sorcerer who uses a mystical gem to dominate both populations. Additionally, there’s a Portuguese-style castle governed by descendants of conquistadors and local Africans, making it the only lost city in Tarzan’s Africa not ruled by white-skinned people.
7. Tarzan Is Actually A British Nobleman
Although Tarzan is best known for his jungle adventures, his true identity is that of a British aristocrat. Those familiar with the 1984 film Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes may already be aware of his noble lineage. However, this aspect of his heritage is introduced in the very first novel.
In the story, Tarzan’s parents, John and Alice Clayton, hold the titles of Lord and Lady Greystoke. After their deaths in the first novel, Tarzan doesn’t reclaim his rightful inheritance until the conclusion of The Return of Tarzan.
The term “Lord” isn’t a formal title but rather a form of address used for dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, or barons in England. Tarzan’s exact title is revealed in chapter 19 of Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, when a Knight of Nimmr addresses him.
“‘I am called Tarzan,’ said the ape-man.
‘And thy rank?’ inquired Sir Bertram.
Tarzan was puzzled by the odd behavior and attire of his seemingly amiable questioner, but he realized that the man would be more impressed if he knew Tarzan held a position of status. So, he answered honestly, in his usual calm manner.
‘A viscount,’ he said.”
This implies that Tarzan, named after his father, is truly John Clayton, Viscount Greystoke. However, in Tarzan Alive, Philip Jose Farmer’s unofficial “biography” of the jungle lord, he notes that the title of viscount wasn’t used in England until the 15th century. Therefore, the Knights of Nimmr wouldn’t have understood it. Farmer proposes that Tarzan also held the older title of Earl of Greystoke. While this isn’t canon, the film Greystoke aligns with this idea.
6. Tarzan Doesn’t Reside In A Treehouse
Starting with the Johnny Weissmuller films in the 1930s, Tarzan and Jane were frequently depicted living in a rustic yet intricate treehouse deep in the jungle. However, this portrayal diverges from the novels. Tarzan’s English-style home is first mentioned in The Eternal Lover, a Burroughs novel where Tarzan plays a minor role:
“South of Uziri, the land of the Waziri, lies a range of rugged mountains. At their base stretches a vast plain teeming with antelope, zebra, giraffe, rhinos, and elephants. Here, lions, leopards, and hyenas hunt the abundant herds, each in their unique way. Buffalo, fierce and unpredictable, also roam here, posing a greater threat than even the lions, as Clayton notes.
This is truly a hunter’s paradise, and nearly every day, a group sets out from the Greystokes’ low, sprawling bungalow in search of game and adventure . . . ”
A more detailed description of the house appears in The Son of Tarzan, when Tarzan offers shelter to a girl named Meriem. Burroughs describes it as a “bungalow adorned with flowers, with barns and outbuildings of a well-maintained African farm situated behind it.”
When he’s not battling wild beasts or uncovering hidden civilizations, Tarzan leads a surprisingly domestic life.
5. Edgar Rice Burroughs Eliminated Jane
The first actress to portray Jane Porter was Enid Markey in Tarzan of the Apes. However, Markey was a brunette, which contradicted Burroughs’ vision of Jane as a blonde. (Jane is also not British but hails from Maryland.) Burroughs reportedly disliked Markey’s performance so intensely that he decided to kill off Jane in his subsequent story.
In the opening chapter of Tarzan the Untamed, Tarzan is away from home as World War I erupts. Upon his return, he discovers that German soldiers have ransacked and set fire to his home, killing many of his servants and friends. To his horror, they have also taken Jane’s life.
As Burroughs describes it:
“For a long time, [Tarzan] stood motionless, gazing down at the unrecognizable, charred remains. Finally, he bent down and cradled the body in his arms. As he turned it over and saw the gruesome manner of death, he was consumed by an overwhelming wave of grief, horror, and hatred.
He didn’t need the shattered German rifle in the outer room or the bloodied service cap on the floor to confirm who was responsible for this senseless atrocity.
For a brief moment, he clung to the faint hope that the burned corpse wasn’t his beloved. But when his eyes caught sight of the familiar rings on her fingers, that last glimmer of hope vanished.”
This heartbreaking moment sets Tarzan on a relentless path of revenge. He tracks down and eliminates every German soldier he encounters, regardless of their involvement. This marks a stark departure from his typically noble behavior.
Of course, Jane wasn’t actually dead—not even close. Since the story was published as a serial, Burroughs altered Jane’s fate before the final chapter, though no one knows the exact reason. By the story’s end, Tarzan learns that Jane was kidnapped, not killed. The charred body he found belonged to a maid, deliberately disfigured to deceive him. The motive behind this elaborate ruse remains unexplained, creating a significant plot hole, but fans were simply relieved.
Jane was alive.
4. Tarzan Once Auditioned For A Tarzan Film
Edgar Rice Burroughs had a complicated relationship with Hollywood. While he appreciated the exposure and additional income, he was frustrated by how films altered his character. He particularly disliked Elmo Lincoln, the first actor to portray Tarzan, who was afraid of heights. Lincoln’s bulky physique, with a 132-centimeter (52 in) chest, also contrasted sharply with the slim, athletic Tarzan of the novels.
Burroughs was equally unimpressed with Johnny Weissmuller (pictured above), the most iconic movie Tarzan. He envisioned Tarzan as articulate, but Weissmuller’s portrayal struggled to speak coherent English.
The author channeled his frustrations into Tarzan and the Lion Man. In this story, Tarzan saves a film crew shooting in the African jungle. Along the way, Burroughs satirizes actors, directors, and the film industry as a whole. The climax occurs in the final chapter, where Tarzan visits Hollywood and meets a casting director:
“The casting director examined Clayton closely. ‘You look good to me; I’ll introduce you to Mr. Goldeen, the production manager. Do you have any experience?’
‘As Tarzan?’
The casting director chuckled. ‘I mean in films.’
‘No.’
‘Well, you might still work. You don’t need to be a Barrymore to play Tarzan. Come on, let’s head to Mr. Goldeen’s office.’
They waited briefly in the outer office before a secretary led them in.
‘Hello, Ben!’ the casting director greeted Goldeen. ‘I think I’ve found the perfect candidate. This is Mr. Clayton, Mr. Goldeen.’
‘For what?’
‘For Tarzan.’
‘Oh, m-m-m.’
Goldeen’s eyes scrutinized Clayton briefly; then the production manager waved his hand dismissively. He shook his head. ‘Not the right type,’ he said sharply. ‘Not the right type at all.’”
3. Tarzan Journeyed To The Earth’s Core
Beyond the Tarzan series, Burroughs authored several other book series, including the Pellucidar novels. In these tales, adventurers David Innis and Abner Perry construct a drilling machine and uncover that the Earth is hollow, illuminated by an inner sun. This subterranean world is home to dinosaurs, primitive humans, and a diverse array of intelligent, non-human species.
In Tarzan at the Earth’s Core, Tarzan and a small team set out to find Innis and Perry. Using his vast fortune, Tarzan funds the creation of a unique dirigible named the O-220. This massive aircraft takes them through a colossal opening at the North Pole, leading them to the Earth’s core.
The concept of a Hollow Earth is a pseudoscientific theory dating back to the 18th century. While it’s unclear if Burroughs believed in this idea, he certainly found it compelling for his stories. This theme wasn’t confined to Earth; in his novels The Moon Maid and The Moon Men, the Moon is also depicted as hollow, housing ancient civilizations.
2. Tarzan And Jane Are Eternal
In Tarzan’s Quest, Tarzan clashes with the Kavuru, a hostile tribe wreaking havoc in the jungle and abducting women, including Jane. The Kavuru possess immortality, thanks to a pill that grants eternal youth. In chapter 28, the Kavuru high priest reveals to Jane:
“‘You exist solely to serve man’s purpose. Only in solitude can man achieve divinity. Women weaken and destroy him. Look at me! Look at my priests! You assume we are young, but we are not. A century has passed since the last initiate joined our sacred order. How have we achieved this immortality? Through women. We are celibates. Our vows were sealed in the blood of women, and breaking them would mean death. A Kavuru priest must never yield to a woman’s allure.’
Jane shook her head. ‘I still don’t understand,’ she said.
‘But you will. Long ago, I discovered the secret to eternal youth. It lies in an elixir made from various ingredients—pollen from specific plants, roots of others, the spinal fluid of leopards, and, most importantly, the glands and blood of young women. Now do you understand?’”
After Tarzan saves Jane, they return home with a supply of the immortality pills, sharing them with their allies. Even Tarzan’s monkey companion, Nkima, receives a dose. Curiously, Tarzan and Jane neglect to secure any pills for their son, Korak, and his wife, Meriem. Since they weren’t part of this story, they were left out.
1. Tarzan Is Skilled In Martial Arts
A man with the strength and agility to wrestle apes might seem unbeatable, but Tarzan has an additional advantage. According to Joe Lansdale’s authorized novel, Tarzan, the Lost Adventure, the jungle hero once trained in kung fu at the Shaolin Temple. For this list, however, we’ll focus solely on the original Burroughs novels.
Did Edgar Rice Burroughs equip Tarzan with martial arts abilities? In The Beasts of Tarzan, Burroughs hints at this in a broader sense:
“With a fierce growl, the beast lunged at Tarzan, but the ape-man had acquired techniques of scientific combat from his time among civilized men—methods unknown to the jungle’s inhabitants.
Years ago, he would have met such an attack with raw strength, but now he deftly sidestepped the charging brute. As the creature rushed past, Tarzan delivered a powerful right punch to its stomach.”
It appears Tarzan has mastered boxing, and it’s reasonable to assume he’s also trained in wrestling. He might even have studied savate, the French style of kickboxing, given that his introduction to civilization came through Paul d’Arnot, a Frenchman. However, the one martial art explicitly mentioned is jujitsu. In Tarzan the Untamed, Burroughs describes:
“As the girl watched, Tarzan seemed unprepared for the ape’s charge, and she expected him to be overwhelmed. The massive ape was nearly upon him, hands ready to grab, when Tarzan moved with astonishing speed. Like the strike of Histah, the snake, his left hand shot out, seizing the ape’s left wrist. In a swift motion, he locked the ape’s right arm under his own in a jujitsu hold—a technique he learned among civilized men. This grip could easily shatter bones and left the ape completely powerless.”
