So, Tarzan gave up his title and his love, Jane, to be a gentleman. In The Return of Tarzan, we find him in Paris, trying to be Lord Greystoke. It's not going well. He's miserable in a suit, and a scheming Russian count named Rokoff is making his life hell. After a duel and some serious drama, Tarzan heads to Africa, not as a lord, but as a secret agent. His ship is sabotaged, he's marooned, and—you guessed it—he finds his way back to the jungle. But this isn't just a homecoming. He stumbles upon the lost city of Opar, a place filled with gold and a strange, beautiful queen who sees him as a god. Meanwhile, Jane and her party are also heading to Africa, completely unaware that Rokoff is plotting revenge against them all. The story cuts between Tarzan's epic adventures in Opar and the peril facing Jane, building to a classic rescue mission.

Why You Should Read It

This book is where Tarzan truly becomes the legend we know. In the first book, he discovered who he was. Here, he chooses who he wants to be. Burroughs lets him be both—the cunning nobleman and the fierce jungle lord—and it's fantastic to watch him switch between the two. The action is relentless, from the streets of Paris to the depths of Opar. But the heart of the story is still Tarzan's love for Jane. It's old-fashioned and dramatic, but it gives the crazy adventures real stakes. You're not just reading about a man fighting a lion; you're reading about a man fighting to get back to the woman he loves.

Final Verdict

This is the perfect read for anyone who loves pure, fast-paced adventure. If you enjoy stories with lost worlds, clear-cut heroes, and villains you love to hate, you'll have a blast. It's also a great pick if you're feeling nostalgic for the kind of thrilling tales that inspired movies like Indiana Jones. Just don't go in expecting deep philosophical debate. Go in expecting a wild ride through a fantastic version of Africa, led by one of fiction's most enduring heroes. It's a classic for a reason.