Tarzan of the Apes - Edgar Rice Burroughs

Knock me sideways, that last third made this so much better than I expected.

 

It IS full of "whiteman's burdeen", and "fair for it time" commentary, and "nobility breeds true" and all that chivarious "poor little woman" bullshit. But... BUT! That friendship with D'arnot! And all the intern exploration Jane does on her feelings for Tarzan. And through out all of the book, the fact that Clayton is NOT the asshole so many adaptations turn him into but a honestly good man (with a few very understandably petty moments).

 

Which totally makes the end a stake to the heart. I did not expect to, but it made me care.