The Pathfinder: Or the Inland Sea (World's Classics) [Paperback]

James Fenimore Cooper (Author), William P. Kelly (Editor)

Book Description

Series: World's Classics | Publication Date: March 25, 1993

The Pathfinder (1840), Cooper's most picturesque novel and the fourth of the five Leatherstocking Tales, is a naval story set on the Great Lakes of the 1750s. Fashioned from Cooper's own experience as a midshipman on Lake Ontario in 1808-09, the novel revives Natty Bumpo (who had died in The Prairie), and illuminates Cooper's interest in American history with his concern for social development.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Excellent edition for class use, what with both of Cooper's prefaces and the series in general. AND an essay to provide historical context, a chronology, a bibliography--and still more. This should be the edition of choice for the classroom."--Cameron C. Nnickels, James Madison University

"Clearly and carefully edited, this volume is a very useful addition to your excellent series."--E.N. Feltskog, University of Wisconsin

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

William P. Kelly is at Queen's College, City University of New York. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 25, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192829564
• ISBN-13: 978-0192829566
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 4.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,549,427 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as "Mohicans" but a nice sequel., June 16, 1997

By 

Stuart W. Mirsky "swm" (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pathfinder (Hardcover)

For lovers of adventure, pioneer tales, westerns and Cooper's own "leatherstocking" stories, this one's not bad. Not up to the pacing, depth or vision demonstrated by Cooper in "The Last of the Mohicans", this book nevertheless continues the adventures of the wilderness scout Natty Bumppo ("Hawkeye" in "Mohicans" and "Pathfinder" here). Still the prototype of that strong, silent and simple man of virtue (who finds a higher moral calling in the wilderness among his beloved Indians and far from the zones of civilization whom we met in "Mohicans"), Natty now seems somewhat older (though not much time appears to have elapsed) and longing, at last, for what he has always eschewed: a place and family of his own. Brought to a lakeside fort (Lake Ontario) at the urging of an old friend who is in charge of running the day to day soldiering at the fort and who desires to play matchmaker between his daughter and Pathfinder, Natty soon finds himself in the midst of intrigue and betrayal on the lake. It is still the time of the French and Indian Wars and the action involves naval activity on the lake and in the Thousand Islands. But Natty soon finds he has competition for the hand of his old friend's daughter in the person of a young naval officer who promptly falls under suspicion because of his French origins. In the end, Pathfinder must get to the bottom of the betrayal while making the noble choice with regard to the fair maiden and his rival for her hand. The action involves a swift "sea" chase over Ontario and a denoument among the Thousand Islands as Pathfinder and his faithful companion, Chingachgook, seek to protect the small military force in their charge from a French attack which is aided by unknown turncoats in their midst. It's a good story but less powerful, and a good deal more wooden, than "Mohicans". Natty, himself, seems a might too talkative for the strong silent type he is alleged to be (didn't seem as problematic in the earlier "Mohicans" as it does here), but there are some good moments including an opening scene where the great forested country is vividly depicted, a fine shooting match at the fort (reminiscent of Scott's knightly tourneys), an exciting chase across the face of the lake and a fine wrap-up when Pathfinder struggles to save the outgunned outpost in his charge. Still this one read better when I was much younger than it does today.

Stuart W. Mirsky
author of The King of Vinland's Saga

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Tale, August 11, 2000

By 

"fusilier10" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pathfinder (Leatherstocking Tale) (Paperback)

I originally wanted to read the Last of the Mohicans because of the very enjoyable movie but I picked up this book and chose to read it first. I do not regret my decision. I was unaware when I began reading this book in the Leatherstocking series that it was not the first book in the series. A reader who has not read other books in the series can feel confident that they won't feel lost if they start reading this book. The book portrays very detailed images of the forests, lakes, rivers, and people of the French and Indian War time period during the 18th century. The character development and plot are very well done. The book also gives a glimpse of the harsh realities of war during this time period. The writing style of the book is also fascinating and reminds me, at times, of epic poetry. I highly recommend it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good adventure, April 30, 2002

By 

Jeff X (Addieville, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Pathfinder (Leatherstocking Tale) (Paperback)

In this, the third Leatherstocking tale chronologically (after Deerslayer and Last of the Mohicans), James Fenimore Cooper takes us, once again, to his vision of pure, unadultered, nature. Once again he weaves a tale around his ideas of morality, race, and religion. This time around Leatherstocking (known here as Pathfinder) is the pursuer of love, whereas before (in Deerslayer) he was the pursued.

These three books are the only ones that I have read to this point, and it is true that both this and the Deerslayer are more of romances than the Last of the Mohicans, which is an adventure.
Alot of people give the other books in the series flack because they are expecting the same as what they read in Last of the Mohicans. However, if you begin reading the book without those preconcived notions leading to disappointment, I think you will find that the other books are equally entertaining

All three are great books and I highly recommend them all.