Tarzan Presley

by Nigel Cox

Genres: Fiction

463 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Laurence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ironic that it was the Tarzan estate rather than Presley estate that got the book banned until it was changed. Managed to get an original.

A gripping take on the Tarzan and Elvis legends, and also insights into the dehumanisation that comes from fame.

I'd give it 4.5 if that was possible - just falls short of being one of the best books I have ever read (I am a harsh marker)

[Steve King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this for the third time and enjoying it just as much. Such a clever story that make a you see Elvis, the music, New Zealand, America and much else in a fresh light.

Just a… great read.

I’ve also just discovered that I must have one of the fairly rare first- and last- paperback editions of this book as opposed to the later Jungle Rock Blues.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great. I saw an article about it in The NZ Listener a few years ago. I thought, how weird. But memorable, and when I got a chance to read it, I did. It’s very engaging. Almost plausible. Maybe the final chapter lets it down a bit. Who knew about the New Zealand gorillas, the giant wetas big enough to carry a gorilla and Tarzan’s early life in NZ.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bizarre story to be sure, but I found it oddly engaging. New Zealander Nigel Cox blends two myths together--that of Tarzan with that of Elvis Presley! A wacky idea, but I think Cox carries it off. From the first page I was hooked.
It's basically the story of a feral human who arrives in civilization--and becomes a superstar. This Tarzan is raised by gorillas in the wilds of New Zealand ( it's never explained how the gorillas got there from Africa). Jane is an American scientist who finds him in "Enzed (N.Z.)" and brings him back with her to America. This is the America of the 1950s and Tarzan becomes a rock n' roll star. Cox raises questions here about the meaning of fame and the price of pursuing your dream in the American consumer culture.
The final part of the story finds Tarzan faking his death to take on a new persona and escape the fame and fortune that was destroying him. If only Elvis was able to do this.... we can only hope that, maybe, he did.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book, and it is immensely sad that a) it cannot be published anymore because the Tarzan people got upset at the use of the Tarzan image, and b) the talented and hilarious Nigel Cox has died. My copy is very precious to me. In the early part of the book it has a fascinating insight to someone learning a language when they have never used language before, which I loved.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astounding achievement in mixed-genre story telling! It's the Elvis story! it's the Tarzan story! It's thrilling! It's a mystery! It's just plain GREAT - what an amazing work of fiction - what an imagination!