Customer Reviews

On Tarzan

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Only Superman and Batman have had a stronger and more enduring impact on 20th century American popular culture than Edgar Rice Burroughs' literary creation of "Tarzan". The orphaned son of an English couple marooned on the shores of Africa and raised by apes captured popular attention from his first introduction in 1912 in the novel "Tarzan of the Apes". Since then the character has appeared in dozens of books (both authorized and unauthorized), been the subject of dozens of films (both American and foreign), appeared as several television series, been the mainstay of comic books, graphic novels, radio plays, and given rise to innumerable toys, fanzines, and other products. In his seminal work "On Tarzan", Alex Vernon (Associate Professor of English, Hendrix College) lays out the mythical, even archetypal status of this fictional character, the differences between Tarzan of the novels and Tarzan of the films, the 'Walt Disneyfictation' phenomenon, and so much more. Of special note is the analysis of racism in the Tarzan mythos and literature. A work of seminal and impressive scholarship, "On Tarzan" is strongly recommended for academic and community library Literary Studies and American Popular Culture reference collections, as well as a singularly important contribution to the reading lists for all dedicated Tarzan fans.

The author clearly is articulate and has done his homework with both Tarzan movies and the Edgar Rice Burroughs' book series.

However...

Two huge problems with this book. One: the author is obviously cherry-picking out-of-context book passages and movie scenes to fit his own (occasionally bizarre) views on how Tarzan has effected or influenced our culture. Two: more importantly, even if one was inclined to agree with the author, it would be hard to discover this, as the book is written more from a stream-of-consciousness style, than with a coherent, logical progression. This style is further aggravated with an almost smirky (NOT playful or witty) tone.

While one previous reviewer was a little extreme in suggesting Burroughs' family sue the author, the reviewer from the Midwest Book Review has some real explaining ( 5 stars???) to do.

There should be no surprise why the Paperback edition of this book is being sold at a VERY deep discount.

Though Vernon has done an impressive amount of research into his subject, it's all for nought in the end: this is just one more excrescence of "literary criticism" that fails to generate a fraction of the originality of its intended subject. Intellectuals who have lost the ability to simply enjoy fantasy apparently feel the need to examine such fantasy (even their need for fantasy) and eviscerate it in the process, much like the laboratory frog. It's a cynical, condescending way of disregarding worthy entertainment such as the Tarzan mythos, while adding nothing to the mythos itself. I can just see the editors clucking over their publication of a book about "that sort of thing," while reading their Virginia Woolf: an author who seriously deserves condescension and derision.

You would have to be on the ill side to buy this incredibly insulting book about Edgar Rice Burroughs' famous character, Tarzan of The Apes. Do not waste your money on this piece of absolute trash. In fact, don't ever read it. You would be better of striking a match to any money used to buy it. I gave it one star only because the rating system does not go lower.
If I was one of the owners of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Corporation, I would
investigate a lawsuit against this man for libel.

Dennis

I was a big Tarzan fan as a kid. Never missed a movie, so I would have liked more photos in the book. I find it ironic that Cheeta out lived them all! Good book for a round trip airline ticket.

"On Tarzan" is on the ROROTOKO list of cutting-edge intellectual nonfiction. Professor Vernon's book interview ran here as cover feature on August 10, 2009.