This collection of interconnected short stories takes Tarzan back to his early years and tells of the exciting and formative events of his youth. These twelve tales show the ape-man before he learned of civilization or truly understood his human heritage. Tarzan finds an unlikely first love and first heartbreak, befriends an elephant, and tries to adopt a child with predictably mixed results. Gentle humor tempers tales of ferocious and violent action as Tarzan battles a cruel witch doctor and disguises himself in a lion skin with results both humorous and horrifying. There is a reflective tone some might not expect of the author, as young Tarzan learns the difference between reality and dream, and strives to understand, with none to explain or guide him, what is meant by 'God'. Many Tarzan fans find particular enjoyment in reading about the jungle lord's adventures in his wilderness element and this collection delivers all the thrills, mystery and adventure they could wish.