The story in one page
John Clayton has traded his loincloth for London boots, but his domestic peace ends when the Russian villain Nikolas Rokoff escapes prison. Rokoff kidnaps the Greystoke infant and lures Tarzan into a trap, marooning him on an island without tools or clothes. Reverting to his primal state, Tarzan subdues a panther named Sheeta and a tribe of apes led by Akut. Together with a native chief named Mugambi, this multi-species strike team follows a trail of treachery across the African interior. While Tarzan survives crocodile attacks and jungle warfare, he discovers that even the most loyal villains can be bribed to swap a baby.
Who's who
- Tarzan
The ape-man who must reclaim his primal skills to save his family.
- Nikolas Rokoff
A vengeful Russian escapee who targets his enemy's wife and son.
- Jane Clayton
Tarzan's wife, kidnapped and held captive aboard the steamer Kincaid.
- Akut
The leader of a tribe of apes who joins Tarzan's pack.
- Mugambi
Chief of the Wagambi who becomes Tarzan's powerful human ally.
- Sheeta
A huge, fierce panther that Tarzan dominates and enlists for war.
What it's really about
- Primal Loyalty
- Animals prove more reliable allies than civilized men.
- Paternal Instinct
- A father's drive to protect his bloodline across continents.
Why it's memorable
- Tarzan standing over a defeated foe and emitting the victory cry of the bull-ape.
- The ape-man escaping a crocodile’s underwater lair by swimming through a submerged passage.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Rokoff dies during the final confrontation, and it is revealed that his henchman Paulvitch had already swapped the real Greystoke baby for a substitute to secure a private ransom.
For your book club
- The contrast between the 'immaculate' London gentleman and the 'rending beast' of the jungle.
- The strategic use of animal packs as a substitute for human military force.