The Last of the Mohicans - James Fenimore Cooper - 1826
Introduction
The Last of the Mohicans (1826) is James Fenimore Cooper's look into the French and Indian War of the 1750s between the French and the English for control of the North American frontier that "neither was destined to retain." His characters and his use of suspense made this historical adventure and romance novel one of the most popular American books of its time. In literary circles, however, it was mocked and criticized throughout the nineteenth century. Early reviewers ridiculed Cooper's portrayal of Native American characters and his dialogue. In the twentieth century, however, critics in the United States began a renewed interest in Cooper's work by acknowledging the thorough research Cooper had done in creating his characters and reproducing historical events.
The novel belongs to the series "The Leatherstocking Tales," which are united by the character of Natty Bumppo (also called Leatherstocking, the Deerslayer, and Hawkeye) that Cooper introduces in The Pioneers (1823). Supposedly, Cooper discussed his ideas for his books with his wife, and she suggested he bring Bumppo into The Last of the Mohicans, where he would be considerably younger than he is in The Pioneers.
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