Initial Responses

The critical response to Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans was overwhelmingly positive An American work of fiction was at last praised on both sides of the Atlantic for its realism, adventure, and characters. The editor of Escritor called Cooper "a genuine talent who has successfully bound realism in the guise of romance." The Literary Gazette praised his "ability to maintain interest and paint vivid characters and scenery," while Literary World referred to his "real life scenery created with faithfully presented narrative." New York Review and Atheneum Magazine described Cooper as "an imaginative writer," exhibiting "extraordinary power." The Liverpool Repository stated that Cooper was superior to Sir Walter Scott as an imparter of information.

Cooper's characters excited reviewers, but there was no consensus as to which were the best. His portraits of Indian life were praised by the Literary Chronicle and Weekly Review and...