Balaoo the Ape Man is a 1912 mystery novel by French author Gaston Leroux (author of The Phantom of the Opera) about a monkey raised as a human by a scientist. The ape is educated, wears clothes, and lives in a French village, but his immense strength and temper lead to murder and a manhunt. The story is a blend of mystery, horror, and adventure, featuring a "monkey-man" (pithecanthrope) who is both civilized and savage, leading to suspenseful and shocking events. The novel was first published in English by Hurst and Blackett in 1913. In an interesting twist, Edgar Rice Burroughs was writing Tarzan of the Apes about a human raised by apes at the same time that Gaston Leroux was writing Balaoo the Ape Man about an ape raised by humans. The novel explores the line between man and beast, civilization and savagery, and the nature of humanity. Originally published in French in 1912, with an English translation following shortly after. The story has been adapted into several films, including The Wizard (1927) and Dr. Renault's Secret (1942).