Customer Reviews

The Spy (Penguin Classics)

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The plot of this book is based on a real spy story. Therefore, although some do consider it unbelievable, the basis of it is entirely true. The way that the author slowly brings out the character of Harvey Birch is wonderful. He creates numerous sub plots that make the story very interesting. The only weakness is the fact that the author was rushed into stopping the story abruptly. As a result, one hears no more about many important characters until the very end when some are fleetingly mentioned. The ending is so strong, however, that this fault isn't as glaring as it would have been.

In his second novel, James Fenimore Cooper forces readers into the minds and mentalities of his characters, while practically bringing the readers to the scene with his excellent writing ability. Both of these things help to establish the basic ideas in the novel and make it easier to understand.
The story takes place during the heart of the American Revolution in 1780 on the neutral ground of Westchester County, New York. Harvey Birch is an American spy wrongly suspected by Patriots to be a spy for the British. Harvey meets a family named the Whartons, who are torn apart by the war. Throughout the story, Harvey helps the family by trying to save Henry Wharton, a British Spy, while he himself has to evade both the Continental Army and American guerrillas. In the end, George Washington offers the spy a reward, but Harvey refuses because he was motivated by his love for his country, and not by money.
Though it may seem unbelievable, the basis for the story of The Spy is actually true. There are even real characters, including General George Washington. The plot was very complex, growing thicker and thicker, containing many subplots which enhanced the entertainment value of the book. There were some very significant ideas in this novel, such as the elder Wharton's neutrality during the war which held his family together. There were also some confusing events, including Harvey Birch's sudden change of mind while handing his pardon note to Major Dunwoodie. Another puzzling aspect of the story was how the Continental Army still suspected Birch to be a spy for the British even after seeing all his pro-patriot actions. This book would be great for historians, history teachers, or war fanatics, but Cooper's sophisticated language would be more difficult for high school students.

THE SPY appeared in December of 1821, 189 years ago as I write this. Why in the world would anyone want to read a novel written nearly two centuries ago? First of all, I submit that the age of a book is pretty much immaterial. Until one has read it, a book is always new to each of its readers. Secondly, THE SPY is very simply an intriguing story, which brings us to one of the two reasons that I thoroughly enjoy it:

The story line of the book is as interesting as that of any modern spy novel, probably better in fact. Take this mysterious peddler, Harvey Birch. He is widely believed to be a spy for the British, but where do his loyalties truly lie? What real identity underlies Harper, the stranger driven to the Whartons' home by the storm? Beyond the mysteries lie other fascinating plot threads, for even in the midst of war love exists, both true as in the case of Major Dunwoodie and false as in the person of the British Colonel Wellmere.

Beyond its gripping story line, I also found THE SPY most enjoyable reading for what I'll call its educational aspects. Although it is a novel and therefore fictional, I believe it does rather accurately bring out aspects of the American Revolution that are often ignored in American history classes. As happened again eighty-four years later in the War Between the States, the Revolution saw many families whose members were divided in their loyalties. Not all of the colonists were in favor of American independence by any means. Many remained loyal to King George, while many others strove to maintain neutrality in the hope of preserving their property from confiscation or destruction by either side. All of these sundry positions find expression through various characters in THE SPY.

Another aspect of the Revolution of which I was hitherto unaware was the existence of irregular armed groups that roamed the countryside amidst the lawlessness of war, ostensibly supporting one side or the other but often more self-serving than anything else. Neither the Skinners (supposedly supporters of the revolutionaries) nor the Cowboys and Refugees (supporters of British loyalists) were particularly trustworthy or observant of any "rules of war," pillaging and burning at their own whims. As with probably any war, things were not quite as neat and orderly as history textbooks make them appear. Bits of historical reality such as this leave the reader not only entertained but also a little bit wiser of our nation's beginnings.

To balance the review, I must add a couple of characteristics of Cooper's writing that were a bit distracting, although neither can be called a weakness given the stylistic and social conventions of the time. Early 19th Century writers were not as direct and concise as are modern authors, and the use of rather stilted phrases in lieu of precise nouns was an expected norm. Hence, instead of the single word "doctor," we find "disciple of Aesculapius" and such like. More distracting, though quite explicable in light of evolving social norms, are the descriptions and actions of the female characters, who exemplify the now-outmoded traits of the "weakness of their sex" and are controlled by conventions of "propriety" that the contemporary reader now finds ludicrous. I mention these not to dissuade anyone from reading THE SPY but merely to prepare one to encounter them.

All in all, the novel remains as intriguing and captivating as at any time in its 189 year existence, and I heartily recommend it to any reader interested in a fresh, and probably very realistic, view of the American Revolution as well as anyone who just enjoys a good, adventurous mystery story.

Cooper's second novel and first important book is filled with things that aren't what they seem to be: people in disguise, others claiming things about themselves that aren't true, laws that appear to be unfair, unpatriotic patriots, etc. Set during the Revolutionary War in a sort of no-man's land (Cooper calls it the "neutral ground") north of New York City, where both patriots and English sympathizers intermingle and are more likely to be out for themselves than supportive of either side, the story centers around Harvey Birch, thought by all to be a British spy, but who is actually just the opposite: he's spying for George Washington, who appears in disguise as Mr. Harper. Washington is staying with Henry Wharton, a British sympathizer. Wharton has two daughters who provide the "love interest" of the novel (one is about to marry Colonel Wellmere, who, it's discovered just in time, is already married). Wharton's son, who is about to be hanged as a British spy, is "allowed" to escape by Washington as a favor to Wharton for his hospitality. Cooper's theme is moral ambiguity in the face of unfolding events, though individual characters do make clear decisions based on their beliefs, most of which have nothing to do with the war. Birch in particular acts with unflinching honor in spite of what most think of him. Although the novel at times can feel stiff, Cooper's story is animated and well- dramatized. Not as good as any of the Leatherstocking tales or some of his sea novels, but better than quite a number of his other books.

THE SPY, America's first historical novel, is set in late 1780. It plays out in New York's Westchester County, "the neutral ground" between the British forces occupying Manhattan and the American rebels further up the Hudson River. It is not long after the capture and execution under order of General George Washington of out-of-uniform British officer Major John Andre. It is a tough time to be a spy -- for either side.

The novel has two principal characters: an American double-agent and his handler.

The former is Harvey Birch, a wandering peddler, suspected far and wide of being a British agent. He lives in Westchester County with his ancient father, John Birch, and their housekeeper. American forces have arrested him more than once, but he has escaped, perhaps under command influence. He is under a death warrant, if caught by the Americans.

The latter lead character calls himself Mr. Harper. He is tall and has the upper classes about him though he does not wear a wig. Harper looks about fifty.

We meet Harper in THE SPY'S first sentence: "It was near the close of the year 1780, that a solitary traveller was seen pursuing his way through one of the numerous little valleys of West-Chester." He is dressed as a civilian and sits astride on a mighty horse. He takes shelter from a raging storm in "The Locusts," country home of Mr. Wharton, a man somewhat older than Harper. Wharton is wealthy, pro-British, but a political trimmer who hopes (for the sake of not losing his extensive holdings) to seem at least politically neutral to the Americans, in case they ultimately win.

There are also two Wharton daughters on hand that evening. A son, Henry, a British officer based in Manhattan, visits his family in disguise carrying a forged pass from George Washington. The peddler Harvey Birch arrives with goods to tempt the ladies. One of the daughters is pro-American and is in love with handsome Major Dunwoodie of the Virginia forces. The older girl loves a rascally British Colonel, whom she does not know to be an intending bigamist.

All the elements of the novel are in place that evening. The characters go on with their lives, harried by two irregular armed forces: pro-British Cow-Boys and pro-American Skinners.

The story is about the American revolutionary patriotism of Birch and Harper. Over time we learn Harper's real identity and see his national reputation grow until by the time of the War of 1812 when he is dead and gone, he almost equals the gods. Harvey Birch is equally the American patriot but is, by contrast with Harper, condemned forever to hide his true identity as a loyal American who only betrayed to the British what Harper ordered him to reveal.

When the ancient Harvey Birch falls after being drawn into a fight against the British near Niagara Falls on July 25, 1814, he had just made the acquaintance of two young American officers. One is Captain Wharton Dunwoodie, son of the pro-American Wharton daughter of 1780. Harvey recalls her to her son as "an angel." Harvey's corpse is found after the fight by Captain Dunwoodie. A bullet had pierced a tin container under Birch's clothing en route to his heart. In the case is an aging testament from none less than George Washington to "Harvey Birch ... for many years a faithful and unrequited servant of his country. Though man does not, may God reward him for his conduct!" (Ch. xxxv)

There is a view among scholars that celibate or childless heroes of Fenimore Cooper stand outside, even above time. They beget no sons to bind their generation to the next. George Washington and Harvey Birch were two such men. History, however goes forward dialectically through the marriage of the slave-holding Virginian Dunwoodie to the daughter of a wavering New York Tory. Their son, Captain Wharton Dunwoodie, representing, America's unique future, is the first to learn the patriotic truth about a master spy who had long before done much to make his parents' wedding possible.

This review offers a little bit about THE SPY's beginning and end. There is much, much more in between, including other characters, black and white, whom you will enjoy meeting. And you may also find yourself asking more than once: "Just who is this mysterious Mr. Harper?" -OOO-

As an English teacher, I have had trouble over the years finding a novel that could be classified as a classic--or even a well-done movie--about the American Revolution. Cooper's *The Spy* can go some distance toward filling that gap, but it is perhaps the characterization of Caesar, the slave, that has made the book undesirable in today's classroom. Certainly it shows condescension toward Africans, but there is also a great conversation in the book regarding the hypocrisy of fighting for freedom while holding slaves, and Caesar becomes central to the plot more than once in this story. The novel shows how, as in the Civil War, families were divided, enemies mingled, and rowdies loyal to no one wreaked havoc in the countryside. The use of disguise and/or deception is key in this novel: I can count 8 off the top of my head. Things are not what they seem, which, of course, is Cooper's main point as he labors to enshrine the memory of those who allowed themselves to be hated by their American neighbors in order to aid the American cause. Cooper's characterization is not as strong in this novel as what he later achieved with Natty Bumppo, but *The Spy* fills the gap of the missing classic of the Revolutionary period in American literature and should not be left simply to gather dust.

Some of my ancestors lived in the area that this book describes. They defended their property and fought against the British army and cattle thieves ("cowboys"). Reading this book helped me picture how it must have been for them at that delicate time in our country's history. The story is entertaining even if the plot is somewhat straightforward.

James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) has been called the American Sir Walter Scott. Like Scott he wrote of his native land. In his great Leatherstocking Tales and in this early novel he explores life in the early American nation.
The Spy deals with the exciting and sad life of Harvey Birch a pedlar living in Westchester County New York during the Revolutionary War. This was a neutral area in which a civil war was in progress between Loyalists favoring Great Britain and the colonists fighting to create the United States of America. Harvey was a spy for Washington though he was widely thought to be a Loyalist agent spying on Washington's beleagured army. There are several times in the novel when the reader believes Birch will be hanged. Due to his skill in disguise and quick talking he always escapes.
The major focus is on the Wharton family. The father favors the English remaining loyal to George III. His oldest daughter Sarah falls in love with an bigamy minded British officer named Wellmere. It is discovered that he has a wife and family back home in England. Sarah becomes mentally ill when she learns this shattering news on the eve of her wedding. Wharton's youngest daughter Frances is in love with Colonel Dunwoodie an officer in the American army Henry Wharton the only son is a British officer who is saved from being hanged as a spy by the exertions of Henry Birch. The book is filled with disguises as spying goes on in this battleground of blood and death. Cooper includes a few battle scenes. The book ends with Harvey Birch being shot to death during the battle of Lundy Lane in the War of 1812. Until a note from George Washington is discovered on Birch's body he had been thought to be a British agent. Instead, Cooper celebrates the patriotism of Birch. The best scene occurs when Birch refuses to accept money for his efforts from the hand of George Washington. Washington appears in the novel as "Harper" who visits the Wharton family as the novel begins with his exciting flight for freedom from the British finding safe haven in the comfortable home of the Wharton family.
Cooper is much mailnged for his ridiculous plotting, fabulous escapes and stilted sytle. Despite these faults this is a good book worthy of being read and enjoyed. Cooper was our first great American novelist who is deserving of being read. His romance novels of a distant time and place are part of our American literary tradition.

The is here adventure enough and romance for all.
A visit home to see the family turns bad
for a British Captain of Infantry.
A peddler ans a gentleman stranger are what the plot turns on.
Here are "Cowboys" as mounted British soldiers before the modern
cowboy was thought of.
Here are spies and daring escapes in the middle of raging war.
All this takes in rural 1780's New York.
It isn't as good or as bad as some of Cooper's writing,
but it is well told with some surprises along the way.

This was Cooper's second novel and his first success (his first novel, "Precaution" is still in print but little read, deservedly, by all accounts). America wanted its own Walter Scott, its own in-house novelist, and at the same time it was busy mythologizing the Revolution. So Cooper and "The Spy" were opportune. He was consciously attempting to emulate Scott but, although he writes quite well, he lacks Scott's lyricism. Also, he was not yet into his stride as a storyteller and so, for example, conflicts are resolved too soon and sub-plots remain undeveloped.

Although "The Spy" was inspired by ('Based on' is too strong a characterization) events surrounding the Major Andre affair, the connection is tenuous, and even though real historical characters, including a most implausible George Washington, make an appearance, the historical accuracy is slight. It is a version of events that the American public wanted to hear. Probably it still is. In fact, Mel Gibson will probably one day expunge all vestiges of authenticity from it and turn it into a movie.

It is interesting to note the discussion on slavery that takes place between the British and American protagonists, and also the author's treatment of the black characters. Written between the Revolution and the Civil War, it reflects the attitudes of its time.

If you do decide to read it, I recommend the Penguin edition, as it has a very good introduction.