The classic tale of Hawkeye—Natty Bumppo—the frontier scout who turned his back on "civilization," and his friendship with a Mohican warrior as they escort two sisters through the dangerous wilderness of Indian country in frontier America.
The Last of the Mohicans (Dover Thrift Editions)
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Editorial Reviews
Review
This novel remains the most popular of Cooper's 'Leatherstocking Tales', a classic story of the French and Indian War. The battles and exciting pursuits, which constitute the book's plot, are rounded out by interesting Indian lore and descriptions of the wilderness. --Masterpieces of World Literature
The beauty of the unspoiled wilderness and sorrow at its disappearance, symbolized in Hawkeye's Mohican Indian friend, the last of their tribe, are important themes of the novel. --Merriam Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature
[Cooper's] worldwide fame attests his power of invention, for his novels have been popular principally for their variety of dramatic incidents. . . but. . . [there has been] a revival of interest in their creation of tension between different kinds of society. . . between civil law and natural rights as these suggest issues of moral and mythic import. --The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature
[Cooper's] sympathy is large, and his humor is as genuine--and as perfectly unaffected--as his art. --Joseph Conrad --This text refers to the MP3 CD edition.
The beauty of the unspoiled wilderness and sorrow at its disappearance, symbolized in Hawkeye's Mohican Indian friend, the last of their tribe, are important themes of the novel. --Merriam Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature
[Cooper's] worldwide fame attests his power of invention, for his novels have been popular principally for their variety of dramatic incidents. . . but. . . [there has been] a revival of interest in their creation of tension between different kinds of society. . . between civil law and natural rights as these suggest issues of moral and mythic import. --The Concise Oxford Companion to American Literature
[Cooper's] sympathy is large, and his humor is as genuine--and as perfectly unaffected--as his art. --Joseph Conrad --This text refers to the MP3 CD edition.
About the Author
James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) grew up at Otsego Hall, his father’s manorial estate near Lake Otsego in upstate New York. Educated at Yale, he spent five years at sea, as a foremast hand and then as a midshipman in the navy. At thirty he was suddenly plunged into a literary career when his wife challenged his claim that he could write a better book that the English novel he was reading to her. The result was Precaution (1820), a novel of manners. His second book, The Spy (1821), was an immediate success, and with The Pioneers (1823) he began his series of Leatherstocking Tales. By 1826 when The Last of the Mohicans appeared, his standing as a major novelist was clearly established. From 1826 to 1833 Cooper and his family lived and traveled in France, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany. Two of his most successful works, The Prairie and The Red Rover, were published in 1827. He returned to Otsego Hall in 1834, and after a series of relatively unsuccessful books of essays, travel sketches, and history, he returned to fiction – and to Leatherstocking – with The Pathfinder (1840) and The Deerslayer (1841). In his last decade he faced declining popularity brought on in part by his waspish attacks on critics and political opponents. Just before his death in 1851 an edition of his works led to a reappraisal of his fiction and somewhat restored his reputation as the first of American writers.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is Cooper's masterpiece, especially if you measure by popularity. His second installment in the Leatherstocking tales does quite a bit to deserve its reputation. This book was likely written to delve into the backstory of Natty Bumppo and Chingachgook, the characters that emerged as, by far, the most interesting ones in Cooper's first Leatherstocking tale ('The Pioneers').
Due to it's tight pacing, 'The Last of the Mohicans' is easily the best read of the five Leatherstocking Tales. It is also the most consistently plotted and paced book of the series because, as a tale of betrayal, flight, captivity, and frontier warfare, Cooper has a lot less time to indulge in his stately prose (although you'll still need to use a machete to cut through some mile-long sentences!).
'The Last of the Mohicans' has all the physical confrontation that makes for a great adventure story. There are plenty of battles and a pretty extraordinary level of violence considering the time the book was written (kids getting murdered, rotting corpses, and plenty of scalps a-flying). The novel isn't gleefully graphic, but Cooper makes no bones about the
tenuous hold people had on life on the frontier. Considering his usual penchant for rank sentimentality, he's surprisingly detached about the violence he depicts in this book. To me this is evidence that he definitely knew how to shut off the histrionics.
Another reason for the success of the book are the characters. Leatherstocking (going by Hawkeye here) is in his prime as a hero/scout. He is authoratative, brave, cunning, and always knows what to do. Chingachgook is powerful, unpredictable, and savage. However, he takes a backseat to his son Uncas. While Cooper gives Uncas little dialogue, Cooper gives us a very clear picture of what makes him a hero and what motivates him. Cooper's writing, overall, shows an uncharacteristic level of restraint in this regard.
A bigger surprise was the character of Cora. Generally, Cooper is incapable of handling female characterization without building a nauseating shrine to the 'gentle sex.' As a result, it is all the more refreshing to find Cora outspoken, resolute, and strong. During one sequence when several characters are imprisoned by the Iriquois, it is she - not her 'brave male protector' - who remembers to leave a trail in the forest so they can be rescued.
On the other side of the fence, Le Renard Subtile is the best villian of the series by a long shot. Even though you hate him, you can't help but sympathize with him to a certain degree. Cooper skillfully (and without preaching) uses the tragedy of Indian displacement as Magua's motivation. Though it's hard not to feel Magua's anger is justified on some level, Cooper prevents you from rooting for his villian and this creates some interesting tensions.
As with many of the Leatherstocking tales, victory is bittersweet and is necessarily a defeat for the wilderness Hawkeye loves. The fate of the Mohicans clearly foreshadows what Cooper (and the reader) knows will become of every Native American in this tale (or in real life). Comparing these charcters to their latter selves in 'The Pioneers' underscores this very emotionally.
You can definitely enjoy 'The Last of the Mohicans' all by itself and as a straight-up frontier advernture, but there is more to be found if you read it a little deeper. It is a book every American should read. NOTE: Please don't hold the dreadful Daniel Day Louis movie against this book; the two have little in common beyond their titles.
Due to it's tight pacing, 'The Last of the Mohicans' is easily the best read of the five Leatherstocking Tales. It is also the most consistently plotted and paced book of the series because, as a tale of betrayal, flight, captivity, and frontier warfare, Cooper has a lot less time to indulge in his stately prose (although you'll still need to use a machete to cut through some mile-long sentences!).
'The Last of the Mohicans' has all the physical confrontation that makes for a great adventure story. There are plenty of battles and a pretty extraordinary level of violence considering the time the book was written (kids getting murdered, rotting corpses, and plenty of scalps a-flying). The novel isn't gleefully graphic, but Cooper makes no bones about the
tenuous hold people had on life on the frontier. Considering his usual penchant for rank sentimentality, he's surprisingly detached about the violence he depicts in this book. To me this is evidence that he definitely knew how to shut off the histrionics.
Another reason for the success of the book are the characters. Leatherstocking (going by Hawkeye here) is in his prime as a hero/scout. He is authoratative, brave, cunning, and always knows what to do. Chingachgook is powerful, unpredictable, and savage. However, he takes a backseat to his son Uncas. While Cooper gives Uncas little dialogue, Cooper gives us a very clear picture of what makes him a hero and what motivates him. Cooper's writing, overall, shows an uncharacteristic level of restraint in this regard.
A bigger surprise was the character of Cora. Generally, Cooper is incapable of handling female characterization without building a nauseating shrine to the 'gentle sex.' As a result, it is all the more refreshing to find Cora outspoken, resolute, and strong. During one sequence when several characters are imprisoned by the Iriquois, it is she - not her 'brave male protector' - who remembers to leave a trail in the forest so they can be rescued.
On the other side of the fence, Le Renard Subtile is the best villian of the series by a long shot. Even though you hate him, you can't help but sympathize with him to a certain degree. Cooper skillfully (and without preaching) uses the tragedy of Indian displacement as Magua's motivation. Though it's hard not to feel Magua's anger is justified on some level, Cooper prevents you from rooting for his villian and this creates some interesting tensions.
As with many of the Leatherstocking tales, victory is bittersweet and is necessarily a defeat for the wilderness Hawkeye loves. The fate of the Mohicans clearly foreshadows what Cooper (and the reader) knows will become of every Native American in this tale (or in real life). Comparing these charcters to their latter selves in 'The Pioneers' underscores this very emotionally.
You can definitely enjoy 'The Last of the Mohicans' all by itself and as a straight-up frontier advernture, but there is more to be found if you read it a little deeper. It is a book every American should read. NOTE: Please don't hold the dreadful Daniel Day Louis movie against this book; the two have little in common beyond their titles.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Set during the French and Indian War, THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS follows Cooper's renowned hero Natty Bumpo (known here at "Hawkeye" or "the scout") on an adventure to rescue a couple of well-bred daughters of America from a hostile Indian tribe and their treacherous leader Magua (or Renard Subtil). Compared to Cooper's other work, this one is a non-stop thrill ride, with plenty of intense and fast-paced action mingled in with his usual overly-verbose descriptive style. Because of that, this is my favorite of James Fenimore Cooper's novels, and I'd recommend it for any reader.
As a piece of historical fiction, this one again stands out as being superior to his other works. With the focal point of the setting being around the armies and officers of the French and British empires right smack in the middle of the French and Indian War (or Seven Years War if you're not from America), this story is grounded in a well-known historical perspective. Some of the events related in this novel also have strong backing in historical facts. From the individual battles described to the extremely messy and downright horrifying massacre after the surrender of General Munro to the French, Cooper's tale is based on real life occurrences.
Refreshingly, Cooper doesn't shy from portraying the Native Americans in THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS in a less than flattering manner. While described as complex and admirable in some instances, in others the Indians here are brutal, crazy, and downright savage. Even the "good Indians" here, in Chingachkook and Uncas, don't fail to retrieve the occasionally scalp when the opportunity presents itself. The strangeness and brutal-seeming practices of many Native American tribes are well-known historical facts, and it is nice to read a book that doesn't sugar-coat or justify Indian practices for the sake of political correctness.
While its not the easiest book in the world, this one should be enjoyable for nearly every type of reader. Highly recommended.
As a piece of historical fiction, this one again stands out as being superior to his other works. With the focal point of the setting being around the armies and officers of the French and British empires right smack in the middle of the French and Indian War (or Seven Years War if you're not from America), this story is grounded in a well-known historical perspective. Some of the events related in this novel also have strong backing in historical facts. From the individual battles described to the extremely messy and downright horrifying massacre after the surrender of General Munro to the French, Cooper's tale is based on real life occurrences.
Refreshingly, Cooper doesn't shy from portraying the Native Americans in THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS in a less than flattering manner. While described as complex and admirable in some instances, in others the Indians here are brutal, crazy, and downright savage. Even the "good Indians" here, in Chingachkook and Uncas, don't fail to retrieve the occasionally scalp when the opportunity presents itself. The strangeness and brutal-seeming practices of many Native American tribes are well-known historical facts, and it is nice to read a book that doesn't sugar-coat or justify Indian practices for the sake of political correctness.
While its not the easiest book in the world, this one should be enjoyable for nearly every type of reader. Highly recommended.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
A Kid's Review
Format:Paperback
The Last of the Mohicans is full of adventure. It's about two daughters going to their dad's fort, but their guide is a traitor. Along the way, they meet some Indian friends. One is not an Indian but is a friend. When they get to their dad's fort, things just get worse. So if you like adventure, this is the book for you.
by Christian
by Christian
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great read for 3rd grader!!
3rd grader grandson read this book for required book report. He hates to read but really enjoyed this book! Read more
Published 3 months ago by Grandma
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Last of the Mohican
I really enjoyed this CD, it takes listening to a few chapters to get use to the writing style (very wordy). My grandson and I listened to it driving back and forth to school.
Published 18 months ago by Gingers Mom
5.0 out of 5 stars
good book
This book is still as good as it was when I was 17, the product came in good time and reasonable packaging
Published 18 months ago by KT
1.0 out of 5 stars
Do Not Buy this Edition
This edition is a crudely crafted piece of junk, an offense to serious readers (as well as to Fenimore Cooper). Buy from a quality publisher.
Published 23 months ago by George M. Calhoun
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great writer impedes his own book
First off, Cooper must be given deserved props for featuring Native Americans (both good and evil) as main characters in this 1820's novel. Read more
Published on February 12, 2011 by PuroShaggy
4.0 out of 5 stars
I WILL NEVER FORGET THIS BOOK
THIS BOOK WAS GREAT, VERY DETAILED WITH HISTORY, CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, AND PLOT. THE IDEA OF AMERICAN INDIAN WARS IS A AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE AMERICAN HISTORY. Read more
Published on February 1, 2011 by BookGirl
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tai's QuickViews: Four Stars
The Old English takes some getting used to. I see why Cooper quotes Shakespeare so often, as the Mohicans ends like Romeo and Juliet: a tragic loss on both houses.
Published on July 14, 2010 by Tai Odunsi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting!
James Fennimore Cooper's five books known as "The Leatherstocking Tales" ( the Last of the Mohicans is the 2nd in the series) are some of the most exciting books I've ever read. Read more
Published on February 4, 2010 by B. McConn
5.0 out of 5 stars
Christianity in The Last of The Mohicans
Widely known as a classic literary tale of adventure, The Last of the Mohicans is a story that contains strong Christian models of men and women that have since been long abandoned... Read more
Published on October 21, 2009 by R. Barefoot
5.0 out of 5 stars
Still a classic
I bought this for my 12-year old granddaughter; it was good to see that a classic is still a classic.
Published on October 30, 2008 by Alexander Kogan
Citations (learn more)
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