The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper
Published: 1826
Numerous editions; 373 pages in the one I read
Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales were wildly popular in the 19th century, and The Last of the Mohicans, published in 1826, was the most popular of all. Set in 1757, during the French and Indian War, it uses some historical events, such as the William Henry Massacre, as pivotal elements in the plot, and weaves an adventure novel around them. The story is full of sinister attacks, hairbreadth escapes, and stealthy tracking of enemies through the wilderness. There is a cunning, wily villain whose plots and desire for revenge motivate most of the book, there are two beautiful virtuous maidens for him to capture, and an appropriate complement of stalwart, handsome heroes to rescue the maidens and fall in love (although love is not a prominent element of the book). Naturally, all this intrigue cannot be settled without some cost, so one of the maidens and one of the heroes must die at the end. Of course the villain also gets his comeuppance, although not until he has nearly effected one last hairbreadth escape.
The novel has little to recommend it today. The writing is not merely flowery and wordy, it is cumbersome and heavy and often gets in the way. Much of the description of native Americans and their customs would be politically incorrect and offensive today. I do not know whether Cooper was simply reflecting prevalent attitudes of his day or whether his descriptions served partly to create the view of native Americans that persisted into the 20th century and the Hollywood western. I suspect some of both.
All that said, I'm not sorry to have read the book. Despite the bad writing, I wasn't bored by it. I had never read anything of Cooper's, though of course I'd heard of the novels since childhood. I would never have picked one up but for the 1001 books challenge, but I was pleased actually to discover for myself what Cooper was up to--part of my education, I suppose. Nevertheless, I am unlikely ever to read another of his novels or to recommend this one to anyone else.
I had been aware that Mark Twain was highly critical of Cooper, but had never actually read his critique. Since writing this review I was supplied with a link to his comments, with which I completely agree. Here it is, enjoy: Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses.
Numerous editions; 373 pages in the one I read
Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales were wildly popular in the 19th century, and The Last of the Mohicans, published in 1826, was the most popular of all. Set in 1757, during the French and Indian War, it uses some historical events, such as the William Henry Massacre, as pivotal elements in the plot, and weaves an adventure novel around them. The story is full of sinister attacks, hairbreadth escapes, and stealthy tracking of enemies through the wilderness. There is a cunning, wily villain whose plots and desire for revenge motivate most of the book, there are two beautiful virtuous maidens for him to capture, and an appropriate complement of stalwart, handsome heroes to rescue the maidens and fall in love (although love is not a prominent element of the book). Naturally, all this intrigue cannot be settled without some cost, so one of the maidens and one of the heroes must die at the end. Of course the villain also gets his comeuppance, although not until he has nearly effected one last hairbreadth escape.
The novel has little to recommend it today. The writing is not merely flowery and wordy, it is cumbersome and heavy and often gets in the way. Much of the description of native Americans and their customs would be politically incorrect and offensive today. I do not know whether Cooper was simply reflecting prevalent attitudes of his day or whether his descriptions served partly to create the view of native Americans that persisted into the 20th century and the Hollywood western. I suspect some of both.
All that said, I'm not sorry to have read the book. Despite the bad writing, I wasn't bored by it. I had never read anything of Cooper's, though of course I'd heard of the novels since childhood. I would never have picked one up but for the 1001 books challenge, but I was pleased actually to discover for myself what Cooper was up to--part of my education, I suppose. Nevertheless, I am unlikely ever to read another of his novels or to recommend this one to anyone else.
I had been aware that Mark Twain was highly critical of Cooper, but had never actually read his critique. Since writing this review I was supplied with a link to his comments, with which I completely agree. Here it is, enjoy: Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses.