"Tarzan of the Apes" chronicles Tarzan's beginnings and his early days in Africa. Following a series of unfortunate events, Lord Greystoke and his pregnant young wife find themselves stranded in an African jungle. After both of Tarzan's parents die, the baby Tarzan is adopted by a female ape that has recently lost her young. Tarzan's adoptive ape father is not receptive to the addition to the family and tribe, but Tarzan grows and thrives, even managing to teach himself to read when he revisits his parent's abandoned hut. Unlike some of the motion pictures based on the character, Burroughs' Tarzan was adept at mastering most situations, even when returning to civilization.
In the "Return of Tarzan", published in 1915, a lovesick Tarzan is attempting to move on without Jane, who is promised to another. In this adventure Tarzan travels to Paris, surrounded by intrigue, danger and mystery. Tarzan eventually travels back to Africa while carrying on a secret mission, and struggles with the possibility of returning to life in the jungle.
"The Beasts of Tarzan" was published in 1916. When the book begins, Tarzan is living as Lord Greystoke with his wife, Jane, and son, Jack. Tarzan's arch enemies abduct Jane and Jack, and the adventure takes Tarzan back to Africa, where he elicits the help of a panther and a tribe of great apes to save his family.
"Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar" was originally published as a five-part series in the "All-Story Weekly" in 1916. Several years later it was released as a book. This adventure involves a lost colony, gold, thieves, human sacrifice and a high priestess who wants Tarzan, also known by his English name, John Clayton, for herself.
"Son of Tarzan" is the story of Jane and Tarzan's son, Jack, who flees into the jungles of Africa after being kidnapped. Forced to live on his own, Jack, learns to live in the world his father was raised in. Like his father, he masters his situation and builds his own reputation as a mighty adversary. Jack finds his own Jane, the daughter of a French sea captain. Her name is Meriem and she is a central character of the book.