"Men were indeed more foolish and more cruel than the beasts of the jungle! How fortunate was he who lived in the peace and security of the great forest!" ― Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tarzan of the Apes Tarzan of the Apes (1912) by Edgar Rice Burroughs tells the story of Tarzan, a boy raised by apes in the jungle. After his mother dies and the king ape kills his father, he is embraced by Kala, the she-ape. Tarzan's adventures take a new turn when he encounters other humans and falls in love with Jane, a white woman. To find her, he learns the English language and tries to assimilate in Western society, eventually discovering his true identity and lineage.