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Book Review: The Outlaw Of Torn

    Hey, everyone. I just finished reading this book for the upteenth time. I read it for the first time as a twelve year old. It was written by the great Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of Tarzan, the Mars series and the inner earth called Pellucidar.
    Many times I think about Burrough's books and their role in my early life. Growing up as I did, Mr. Burroughs helped shape many of my ideas and opinions. Living in the deep south, where crudeness and poverty were the norm, at least in my neighborhood, it was nice to see a glimpse of a nobler place and time. Unrealistic, yes. A pleasant dream, yes. Corny, yes. In a time and place where goodness was considered weakness, manners were held in contempt and kindness was scorned, this book was a welcome diversion for me. But I digress.
     The Outlaw Of Torn is a story that reads like a fairy tale but with the robust, full-bodied swagger of an adventure tale. It's the story of knights in shining armor and damsels in distress. As you read it you may picture a ragged boy sitting in the woods reading it on a summer's day, after buying it with money earned by selling coke bottles.
    The story takes place in England during the middle ages. The King of England has just had a confrontation with one of his nobles. Being a bit steamed he takes out his frustrations on his fencing instructor, a Jules De Vac. De Vac is perhaps the greatest swordsman on earth and trains members of the royal household in self defense. He is a Frenchman and a bit disdainful of all things English. When De Vac beats the King in their swordplay the King slaps him and then spits on the Frenchman. At a time when the most trivial slight to one's honor must be purged with blood, De Vac begins to plot a massive revenge.
    His idea is to abduct the King's young son, Richard. His plan is to raise the boy as a rogue, a murderer and a highwayman. Then he hopes to see the King hang his own son without knowing that Richard is indeed his son. De Vac relishes the thought of telling the King that he has hung his own, long-lost boy.
    Does De Vac's wild plot come to fruition? Does the baby prince live to see his family again? You'll need to read this one. Don't be deceived into thinking that Burrough's books are only for kids.
    Many of the high ideas of chivalry and nobility from this book I took to heart during my younger years. Alas, not so much in later years.
    I give this book 4 stars out of 4 and wish I could give it more. It is one of my favorite books of all time. You can grab it for free on I-Books, Amazon, Stanza, Guttenberg; just about anywhere you can grab an E-Book.
    From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.
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