The Last of the Mohicans is an epic novel by James Fenimore Cooper, first published in January 1826.
It was one of the most popular English-language novels of its time, and helped establish Cooper as one of the first world-famous American writers. Its narrative flaws were criticized from the start, and its length and elaborately formal prose style have reduced its appeal to later readers. But The Last of the Mohicans properly remains on the syllabi of most American literature courses. It is the best known of the Leatherstocking Tales, and Cooper wrote his novel The Prairie as a sequel to it.
The story takes place in 1757 during the French and Indian War, when France and Great Britain battled for control of the American and Canadian colonies. During this war, the French often allied themselves with Native American tribes in order to gain an advantage over the British, with unpredictable and often tragic results.
Plot
Mohicans was the second book by Cooper, following Pioneers in 1823, to feature the pioneer Nathaniel ("Natty") Bumppo, who is known variously throughout The Leatherstocking Tales as "Deerslayer," "Hawkeye," "Pathfinder," "Leatherstocking," etc., or simply as "The Scout." He personifies the rugged individualism and the pioneer spirit that is central to the American identity to this day.
The story is set in the British province of New York during the French and Indian War, and concerns a Huron massacre (with passive French acquiescence) of from 500 to 1,500 unarmed Anglo-American troops, who had honorably surrendered, plus some women and servants; the kidnapping of two sisters, daughters of the British commander; and their rescue by Hawk-eye, the last two Mohicans, and others. Parts of the story may have been derived from the capture and death of Jane McCrea in July 1777 near Fort Edward, New York, by members of an Algonquian tribe.
Characters
Magua (ma-gwah)– the villain tribe of the piece; the chief driven from his tribe for drunkenness and later whipped by the British Army (also for drunkenness), for which he blames Colonel Munro
Chingachgook – last chief of the Mohican tribe; escort to the travelling Munro sisters, father to Uncas
Uncas – last of the Mohican tribe; escort to the travelling Munro sisters.
Nathaniel "Natty" Bumppo, known as "Hawkeye" – the "American hero" and escort to the Munro sisters, long-time friend of Chingachgook
Cora Munro – dark-haired daughter of Colonel Munro; her mother (who died young) was half-white half-black, which means that Cora is a quadroon (one-fourth black)
Alice Munro – Cora's younger, blonde half-sister
Colonel Munro – the sisters' father, a British army colonel in command of Fort William Henry
Duncan Heyward – a British army major from Virginia who falls in love with Cora Munro
David Gamut – a psalmodist (teacher of psalm singing)
General Webb – Colonel Munro's commanding officer, originally stationed at Albany, who later takes command at Fort Edward (whence he either cannot or will not come to Colonel Munro's aid when Fort William Henry is besieged by the French)
General the Marquis de Montcalm – the French commander-in-chief, referred to by the Hurons and other Indian allies of the French as "the great white father of the Canadas"
Tamenund – the "Sachem" of the Huron
|
|
