The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #34287   Message #3171021
Posted By: GUEST,Songbob
15-Jun-11 - 01:04 PM
Thread Name: Tarzan comics & 'Ape-English' memories..
Subject: RE: Tarzan comics & 'Ape-English' memories..
Someone mentioned "Apache Devil" and "War Chief," and I've always thought those were particularly unusual books for being written by a white man. His treatment of Apache culture and the interaction between the pindah-likoyee and the shis-inday were subtle, and not at all as racist as most 'western' authors.

That is, his Indians were a mix of good and bad individuals, as were his Cowboys. The hero was a white child raised as Geronimo's son, and triumphs over nefarious Indians (Juh) and white men (hmmm... I can't remember the white villain's name, but remember the Indian's; I find that interesting).

I've always wondered how much of his transliterated Apache language is genuine; I suspect most of it is. There would be little need for him to invent a language (a la Tarzan of the Apes) when he got so many of the other cultural references right.

I recommend the two books (they are connected -- read "Devil" first, I think) for anyone looking for more depth on Burroughs as a writer.

Bob

(Pindah-likoyee = white men; shis-inday = Indians)