Convoluted, involving historical tale of early America, 01 Oct 2008
I read all of James Fennimore Cooper's novels in a fever of curiosity about American history about ten years ago, and undoubtedly he is remembered for the right one - the colossal rag-tag tale that is "The Last of the Mohicans". The others are interesting, but never achieve the same narrative drive and sheer impressive drama. There have been numerous attempts to bring it to the big screen, the most memorable in our time being Michael Mann's epic film of the same name in 1992. But the original is not quite like anything else. To read it in the modern age you have to swallow certain reservations, certain prejudices of our own - more on this later.

First, the story. It's the French and Indian wars in 18th century America; the French and English are battling for supremacy over this incredible resource, a new and terrifically important colony. Virgin forests, hundreds of tribes, the land of the east coast of America was the setting for unheard-of upheaval and destruction, and absolutely everybody was caught up in it. It's hard now to calmly assess the horrific arrogance of both the British (yup, that's me) and the French in their casual assumption that whoever gained military supremacy over this land would, literally, own it, quite regardless of the actual, long-time inhabitants. Of course, Cooper's 19th century America was no less arrogantly assuming ownership of the continent, the Indians being to them little more than a costly and dangerous thorn in their side. I generalise, of course: we all have our demons to exorcise. No British subject should forget our own sordid imperial past.

In this setting, the story revolves around the impact on the lives of two sisters, lost in the woods, of a family party that rescue them, again and again: the Mohican Chingachgook, otherwise known as Le Gros Serpent, his son Uncas, and his adopted white son Hawkeye, also known as Natty Bumppo or La Longue Carabine (The Long Rifle). Their attempts to bring the sisters to safety form the basis of the story, and numerous armies, tribes and other characters cross their path in the dramatic and dangerous journey, surely the most important of which is Magua, the vengeful Huron Indian who has a long-cherished hatred of the sisters.

I think Cooper's reputation is tarnished now; but the 1930 screenplay on which Mann's film is based seems to me to be cut from very similar cloth. Cooper, despite shades of bigotry, and for all his faults, gave a voice to all the many tribes of Indians about whom he writes in this novel. He names them; assigns them characteristics and gives them a voice and a decisive part in the action: these are not mere, faceless `Indians' of the type much beloved by Hollywood cinema of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The motivation of his prime villain, the multi-lingual Magua, is explored and taken in context. **Spoiler** Uncas, the warrior son of Chingachgook and the last of the Mohicans, falls for Cora. Cooper's racism is that of assuming that his readers would agree with him that it was out of the question that Uncas' love for Cora could be realised or even taken very seriously. But despite this note - which, today, is sour for me - you know these people very well by the end of the book.

Some of Cooper's modern-day readers will be unable to forgive his casual contemporary racism. If so, reading modern American Indian authors such as Adrian C Louis may help redress the imbalance. Better still: if you feel part of the still-excluded `Other', write your own stories. It's unfortunate that the modern world favours the written word over the oral tradition, to which American Indian history is so tied. However, if you can take Cooper in context, forgive his foibles, and appreciate what he did achieve, and what he did positively do, you'll find in this novel (of which the NC Wyeth illustrated version is the best) a fascinating, sprawling narrative that will tell you a great deal about American fear and American life as shaped by the events of this incredibly turbulent time.

Surprisingly tough going, 01 Jul 2008
I began reading Cooper's arguably most famous work with high expectations. Sadly, I was disappointed. The characters are dreadfully clichéd, and their wooden dialogue gets infuriating. Hawkeye, moreover, is quite a disagreeably arrogant character throughout most of the novel. Nonetheless, Cooper manages a nice frontier adventure which brings to life the never-never land of eighteenth-century America. I recommend for comparison Michael Mann's 1992 adaptation of the novel, which remedies all of the above flaws and is one of the best adventure films of all time.

worth every penny, 04 Apr 2008
This is the second book in the Leatherstocking Tales which spans an entire life of a single man: Natty Bumpo otherwise known as Deerslayer in the first book, Hawkeye in this one, Pasthfinder in the third book and Leatherstocking in the ones to follow, or just Natty. The Deerslayer concentrated on the early years, his early twenties whereas in this book he has become an experienced scout, hunter and is known throughout the colonies as Hawkeye for his exceptional shooting ability with the rifle known as Killdeer, first obtained in the Deerslayer. Natty is now about 35 years old. Suffice it to say, he is now a man of renown. It starts when he is engaged in rescuing the daughters of Colonel Munro from the revengeful Magua who was whipped by Colonel Munro and swore vengence on the children of Munro. It also covers the time of Braddock's defeat after the loss of Fort William Henry. It discusses, in earnest, the decline of the Native American population in the East. It does this through the tale of Uncas the son of Natty's friend Chingachgok. Uncas becomes a kind of symbol of this decline, a brave warrior with great vigour, constitution and heart the story shows that the sun is beginning to set on the native peoples even though they are yet strong and vigorous.

By far the best of the tales I have so far read, having read the first three. It is more dynamic than the other tales and the story moves forward quickly. It is again written in that old style of the 1800's which has its own character and is not unpleasant to read. I enjoyed this book a great deal.

N.B. The Last of the Mohicans is very different from the film of the same name starring Daniel Day Lewis. In fact I would say the story of the original bears very little resemblance to the film.

Truely a classic, 22 Feb 2008
For a book that was written in 1826 it still say alot for the world today. If people read the book in expecting it to be anything like the film with Daniel Day Lewis they would be mistaken. The book starts with the Mohicans and their white brother (Chingahook, Uncas and Hawk eye aka Natty Bumppo) who help protect the daughters of General Munro (Cora and Alice) against the savage trickery and cruelty of Magua, a Huron. The book follows their journeys together climaxing with a final confrontation, which ends the lives of some beloved characters.
To read this you will need to vaguely comprehend (or have a dictionary to hand) French, but this doesn't occur much. The book is beautifully written, but does take a while to get used to, but it is well worth the effort.

Worth the wait, 18 Sep 2001
First a confession: 'The Last of the Mohicans' had been on my bookshelf for four years and I'd never got past the third chapter. But with a five week break between jobs, I knew that if I didn't read it now, I never would. The first half of the book is slow, and Cooper's language is not easy on the modern eye. As other reviewers have pointed out, the plot does seem in places tenuous and the narrative over descriptive, but the book's strength is the brilliant characterisation. Despite the setting, as the story develops, the reader can identify strongly with the hopes and fears of the main characters. My fear on first opening this book that it would be irrelevant to my life proved wrong.

This book may be hard-going, but it's worth reading. You need to take some time over it and persevere with the first half, but when you finish the book you'll feel it was worth it.

Convoluted, involving historical tale of early America, 01 Oct 2008
I read all of James Fennimore Cooper's novels in a fever of curiosity about American history about ten years ago, and undoubtedly he is remembered for the right one - the colossal rag-tag tale that is "The Last of the Mohicans". The others are interesting, but never achieve the same narrative drive and sheer impressive drama. There have been numerous attempts to bring it to the big screen, the most memorable in our time being Michael Mann's epic film of the same name in 1992. But the original is not quite like anything else. To read it in the modern age you have to swallow certain reservations, certain prejudices of our own - more on this later.

First, the story. It's the French and Indian wars in 18th century America; the French and English are battling for supremacy over this incredible resource, a new and terrifically important colony. Virgin forests, hundreds of tribes, the land of the east coast of America was the setting for unheard-of upheaval and destruction, and absolutely everybody was caught up in it. It's hard now to calmly assess the horrific arrogance of both the British (yup, that's me) and the French in their casual assumption that whoever gained military supremacy over this land would, literally, own it, quite regardless of the actual, long-time inhabitants. Of course, Cooper's 19th century America was no less arrogantly assuming ownership of the continent, the Indians being to them little more than a costly and dangerous thorn in their side. I generalise, of course: we all have our demons to exorcise. No British subject should forget our own sordid imperial past.

In this setting, the story revolves around the impact on the lives of two sisters, lost in the woods, of a family party that rescue them, again and again: the Mohican Chingachgook, otherwise known as Le Gros Serpent, his son Uncas, and his adopted white son Hawkeye, also known as Natty Bumppo or La Longue Carabine (The Long Rifle). Their attempts to bring the sisters to safety form the basis of the story, and numerous armies, tribes and other characters cross their path in the dramatic and dangerous journey, surely the most important of which is Magua, the vengeful Huron Indian who has a long-cherished hatred of the sisters.

I think Cooper's reputation is tarnished now; but the 1930 screenplay on which Mann's film is based seems to me to be cut from very similar cloth. Cooper, despite shades of bigotry, and for all his faults, gave a voice to all the many tribes of Indians about whom he writes in this novel. He names them; assigns them characteristics and gives them a voice and a decisive part in the action: these are not mere, faceless `Indians' of the type much beloved by Hollywood cinema of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The motivation of his prime villain, the multi-lingual Magua, is explored and taken in context. **Spoiler** Uncas, the warrior son of Chingachgook and the last of the Mohicans, falls for Cora. Cooper's racism is that of assuming that his readers would agree with him that it was out of the question that Uncas' love for Cora could be realised or even taken very seriously. But despite this note - which, today, is sour for me - you know these people very well by the end of the book.

Some of Cooper's modern-day readers will be unable to forgive his casual contemporary racism. If so, reading modern American Indian authors such as Adrian C Louis may help redress the imbalance. Better still: if you feel part of the still-excluded `Other', write your own stories. It's unfortunate that the modern world favours the written word over the oral tradition, to which American Indian history is so tied. However, if you can take Cooper in context, forgive his foibles, and appreciate what he did achieve, and what he did positively do, you'll find in this novel (of which the NC Wyeth illustrated version is the best) a fascinating, sprawling narrative that will tell you a great deal about American fear and American life as shaped by the events of this incredibly turbulent time.

Surprisingly tough going, 01 Jul 2008
I began reading Cooper's arguably most famous work with high expectations. Sadly, I was disappointed. The characters are dreadfully clichéd, and their wooden dialogue gets infuriating. Hawkeye, moreover, is quite a disagreeably arrogant character throughout most of the novel. Nonetheless, Cooper manages a nice frontier adventure which brings to life the never-never land of eighteenth-century America. I recommend for comparison Michael Mann's 1992 adaptation of the novel, which remedies all of the above flaws and is one of the best adventure films of all time.

worth every penny, 04 Apr 2008
This is the second book in the Leatherstocking Tales which spans an entire life of a single man: Natty Bumpo otherwise known as Deerslayer in the first book, Hawkeye in this one, Pasthfinder in the third book and Leatherstocking in the ones to follow, or just Natty. The Deerslayer concentrated on the early years, his early twenties whereas in this book he has become an experienced scout, hunter and is known throughout the colonies as Hawkeye for his exceptional shooting ability with the rifle known as Killdeer, first obtained in the Deerslayer. Natty is now about 35 years old. Suffice it to say, he is now a man of renown. It starts when he is engaged in rescuing the daughters of Colonel Munro from the revengeful Magua who was whipped by Colonel Munro and swore vengence on the children of Munro. It also covers the time of Braddock's defeat after the loss of Fort William Henry. It discusses, in earnest, the decline of the Native American population in the East. It does this through the tale of Uncas the son of Natty's friend Chingachgok. Uncas becomes a kind of symbol of this decline, a brave warrior with great vigour, constitution and heart the story shows that the sun is beginning to set on the native peoples even though they are yet strong and vigorous.

By far the best of the tales I have so far read, having read the first three. It is more dynamic than the other tales and the story moves forward quickly. It is again written in that old style of the 1800's which has its own character and is not unpleasant to read. I enjoyed this book a great deal.

N.B. The Last of the Mohicans is very different from the film of the same name starring Daniel Day Lewis. In fact I would say the story of the original bears very little resemblance to the film.

Truely a classic, 22 Feb 2008
For a book that was written in 1826 it still say alot for the world today. If people read the book in expecting it to be anything like the film with Daniel Day Lewis they would be mistaken. The book starts with the Mohicans and their white brother (Chingahook, Uncas and Hawk eye aka Natty Bumppo) who help protect the daughters of General Munro (Cora and Alice) against the savage trickery and cruelty of Magua, a Huron. The book follows their journeys together climaxing with a final confrontation, which ends the lives of some beloved characters.
To read this you will need to vaguely comprehend (or have a dictionary to hand) French, but this doesn't occur much. The book is beautifully written, but does take a while to get used to, but it is well worth the effort.

Worth the wait, 18 Sep 2001
First a confession: 'The Last of the Mohicans' had been on my bookshelf for four years and I'd never got past the third chapter. But with a five week break between jobs, I knew that if I didn't read it now, I never would. The first half of the book is slow, and Cooper's language is not easy on the modern eye. As other reviewers have pointed out, the plot does seem in places tenuous and the narrative over descriptive, but the book's strength is the brilliant characterisation. Despite the setting, as the story develops, the reader can identify strongly with the hopes and fears of the main characters. My fear on first opening this book that it would be irrelevant to my life proved wrong.

This book may be hard-going, but it's worth reading. You need to take some time over it and persevere with the first half, but when you finish the book you'll feel it was worth it.

Heavy going, 28 Jun 2008
A classic adventure involving escape from the bad guys, rescue by some brooding hero(s), more escapes, unpleasant deaths for some of the good guys and most of the bad guys, and a happy ending for the survivors. This is a recommended classic, an interesting story and on the list for those who want to improve their mind.

However, I found the language very flowery and such heavy going that I eventually gave up, which I don't do easily. It's an exciting story and well worth hearing, but if you don't want to wade through a book full of artistic prose then go see the film instead, it's very good.

One of those books perhaps better seen on film, 22 Nov 2007
This is one of those books where the film adaptation actually does it credit rather than a disservice. It is fairly long winded in novel form with many digressions, which the film, thankfully cuts out! It's a bit like Lord of the Rings without the dreary poetry.
Here, the action centres around the protagonist, Natty Bumpo and his adventures with the native Americans and has lots of fighting in it! It is all about bravery, nobility, the true mettle of a man etc. It has all the themes you look for in a great American novel, man finding his true self by carving a path through the wilderness and coming into his own.
This is all well and good, but doesn't particularly appeal to me, as I find it a bit preachy and long winded. The actual story with its bare bones is pacy and exciting, squeaky heroines, gruff manly heroes, lots of action and derring do, but it is a tad too formulaic for my liking.

worth it, 20 Jul 2007
As a fair few reviews have stated, the language used in this book can be somewhat of a barrier. I was 16 when I read this book, and only thought of reading it after seeing the film. The film touched me a great deal and so I was interested in seeing how the read would compare.
As mentioned, I was 16, and managed to understand the book through till end, and found that gradually the old slang, or language, easier to read.
If you enjoy reading, and are willing to put in the time to read slowly and understand the words in this great novel, then it really is worth the read. It's a story of great morals, love and loss and I really would reccomend it.
Few books manage to bring tears to my eyes, but this book did and has definately brought alot of insight into the fabulous world of native indian culture.


Hard work, 02 Jan 2007
I found the language used in this quite tough. His descriptions really do put the images wonderfully in ones mind, but the problem is the sentences can sometimes stretch to an entire paragraph. These things make it difficult to read at time, and a bit of a labour. Also, on rare occasions, the characters start to converse in French, without any kind of translation.
Saying that, the plot is superb, and so different from the film it almost seems to defy belief. For example, there is no love story with hawk-eye and Cora, nor does Duncan Heyward desire the latter. Major Heyward is interested in Alice and Uncas has a fleeting interest in Cora. There is an additional character, in David Gamut, who confuses the Hurons with his bizarre songs so much that they thing he has mental problems. In this book Montcalm actively encourages the massacre of William Henry, and there is a rather brutal act from one of the Hurons.
Colonel Munro escapes the gory fate of the film because there is no blood vengeance at the heart of this story. And it all culminates in a battle of the Delawares (led by Le Cerf Agile) against Magua (Le Renard Subtil) and the Hurons.
It could not be any more different from the dramatisation if it tried, and so is readily recommended to those who have seen the film and think there is little extra to be gleaned from the book. There is a sub story of the abuse of the natural world and the treatment of the indeginous peoples of the Americas, and in some of the admonishments of Hawk-eye you can see the passion of the author.

Good read, 15 Nov 2005
Cooper dives into the action quickly and keeps the pace up throughout the novel. The central characters enemies are precariously close to their heels throughout the chase, keeping the readers interest through tension and stoking it when the are overtaken.

Very accessible language considering the time it was written, however a minor point being Coopers seemingly incesant use of the word 'countenance' was mildly irritating.

Convoluted, involving historical tale of early America, 01 Oct 2008
I read all of James Fennimore Cooper's novels in a fever of curiosity about American history about ten years ago, and undoubtedly he is remembered for the right one - the colossal rag-tag tale that is "The Last of the Mohicans". The others are interesting, but never achieve the same narrative drive and sheer impressive drama. There have been numerous attempts to bring it to the big screen, the most memorable in our time being Michael Mann's epic film of the same name in 1992. But the original is not quite like anything else. To read it in the modern age you have to swallow certain reservations, certain prejudices of our own - more on this later.

First, the story. It's the French and Indian wars in 18th century America; the French and English are battling for supremacy over this incredible resource, a new and terrifically important colony. Virgin forests, hundreds of tribes, the land of the east coast of America was the setting for unheard-of upheaval and destruction, and absolutely everybody was caught up in it. It's hard now to calmly assess the horrific arrogance of both the British (yup, that's me) and the French in their casual assumption that whoever gained military supremacy over this land would, literally, own it, quite regardless of the actual, long-time inhabitants. Of course, Cooper's 19th century America was no less arrogantly assuming ownership of the continent, the Indians being to them little more than a costly and dangerous thorn in their side. I generalise, of course: we all have our demons to exorcise. No British subject should forget our own sordid imperial past.

In this setting, the story revolves around the impact on the lives of two sisters, lost in the woods, of a family party that rescue them, again and again: the Mohican Chingachgook, otherwise known as Le Gros Serpent, his son Uncas, and his adopted white son Hawkeye, also known as Natty Bumppo or La Longue Carabine (The Long Rifle). Their attempts to bring the sisters to safety form the basis of the story, and numerous armies, tribes and other characters cross their path in the dramatic and dangerous journey, surely the most important of which is Magua, the vengeful Huron Indian who has a long-cherished hatred of the sisters.

I think Cooper's reputation is tarnished now; but the 1930 screenplay on which Mann's film is based seems to me to be cut from very similar cloth. Cooper, despite shades of bigotry, and for all his faults, gave a voice to all the many tribes of Indians about whom he writes in this novel. He names them; assigns them characteristics and gives them a voice and a decisive part in the action: these are not mere, faceless `Indians' of the type much beloved by Hollywood cinema of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The motivation of his prime villain, the multi-lingual Magua, is explored and taken in context. **Spoiler** Uncas, the warrior son of Chingachgook and the last of the Mohicans, falls for Cora. Cooper's racism is that of assuming that his readers would agree with him that it was out of the question that Uncas' love for Cora could be realised or even taken very seriously. But despite this note - which, today, is sour for me - you know these people very well by the end of the book.

Some of Cooper's modern-day readers will be unable to forgive his casual contemporary racism. If so, reading modern American Indian authors such as Adrian C Louis may help redress the imbalance. Better still: if you feel part of the still-excluded `Other', write your own stories. It's unfortunate that the modern world favours the written word over the oral tradition, to which American Indian history is so tied. However, if you can take Cooper in context, forgive his foibles, and appreciate what he did achieve, and what he did positively do, you'll find in this novel (of which the NC Wyeth illustrated version is the best) a fascinating, sprawling narrative that will tell you a great deal about American fear and American life as shaped by the events of this incredibly turbulent time.

Surprisingly tough going, 01 Jul 2008
I began reading Cooper's arguably most famous work with high expectations. Sadly, I was disappointed. The characters are dreadfully clichéd, and their wooden dialogue gets infuriating. Hawkeye, moreover, is quite a disagreeably arrogant character throughout most of the novel. Nonetheless, Cooper manages a nice frontier adventure which brings to life the never-never land of eighteenth-century America. I recommend for comparison Michael Mann's 1992 adaptation of the novel, which remedies all of the above flaws and is one of the best adventure films of all time.

worth every penny, 04 Apr 2008
This is the second book in the Leatherstocking Tales which spans an entire life of a single man: Natty Bumpo otherwise known as Deerslayer in the first book, Hawkeye in this one, Pasthfinder in the third book and Leatherstocking in the ones to follow, or just Natty. The Deerslayer concentrated on the early years, his early twenties whereas in this book he has become an experienced scout, hunter and is known throughout the colonies as Hawkeye for his exceptional shooting ability with the rifle known as Killdeer, first obtained in the Deerslayer. Natty is now about 35 years old. Suffice it to say, he is now a man of renown. It starts when he is engaged in rescuing the daughters of Colonel Munro from the revengeful Magua who was whipped by Colonel Munro and swore vengence on the children of Munro. It also covers the time of Braddock's defeat after the loss of Fort William Henry. It discusses, in earnest, the decline of the Native American population in the East. It does this through the tale of Uncas the son of Natty's friend Chingachgok. Uncas becomes a kind of symbol of this decline, a brave warrior with great vigour, constitution and heart the story shows that the sun is beginning to set on the native peoples even though they are yet strong and vigorous.

By far the best of the tales I have so far read, having read the first three. It is more dynamic than the other tales and the story moves forward quickly. It is again written in that old style of the 1800's which has its own character and is not unpleasant to read. I enjoyed this book a great deal.

N.B. The Last of the Mohicans is very different from the film of the same name starring Daniel Day Lewis. In fact I would say the story of the original bears very little resemblance to the film.

Truely a classic, 22 Feb 2008
For a book that was written in 1826 it still say alot for the world today. If people read the book in expecting it to be anything like the film with Daniel Day Lewis they would be mistaken. The book starts with the Mohicans and their white brother (Chingahook, Uncas and Hawk eye aka Natty Bumppo) who help protect the daughters of General Munro (Cora and Alice) against the savage trickery and cruelty of Magua, a Huron. The book follows their journeys together climaxing with a final confrontation, which ends the lives of some beloved characters.
To read this you will need to vaguely comprehend (or have a dictionary to hand) French, but this doesn't occur much. The book is beautifully written, but does take a while to get used to, but it is well worth the effort.

Worth the wait, 18 Sep 2001
First a confession: 'The Last of the Mohicans' had been on my bookshelf for four years and I'd never got past the third chapter. But with a five week break between jobs, I knew that if I didn't read it now, I never would. The first half of the book is slow, and Cooper's language is not easy on the modern eye. As other reviewers have pointed out, the plot does seem in places tenuous and the narrative over descriptive, but the book's strength is the brilliant characterisation. Despite the setting, as the story develops, the reader can identify strongly with the hopes and fears of the main characters. My fear on first opening this book that it would be irrelevant to my life proved wrong.

This book may be hard-going, but it's worth reading. You need to take some time over it and persevere with the first half, but when you finish the book you'll feel it was worth it.

Heavy going, 28 Jun 2008
A classic adventure involving escape from the bad guys, rescue by some brooding hero(s), more escapes, unpleasant deaths for some of the good guys and most of the bad guys, and a happy ending for the survivors. This is a recommended classic, an interesting story and on the list for those who want to improve their mind.

However, I found the language very flowery and such heavy going that I eventually gave up, which I don't do easily. It's an exciting story and well worth hearing, but if you don't want to wade through a book full of artistic prose then go see the film instead, it's very good.

One of those books perhaps better seen on film, 22 Nov 2007
This is one of those books where the film adaptation actually does it credit rather than a disservice. It is fairly long winded in novel form with many digressions, which the film, thankfully cuts out! It's a bit like Lord of the Rings without the dreary poetry.
Here, the action centres around the protagonist, Natty Bumpo and his adventures with the native Americans and has lots of fighting in it! It is all about bravery, nobility, the true mettle of a man etc. It has all the themes you look for in a great American novel, man finding his true self by carving a path through the wilderness and coming into his own.
This is all well and good, but doesn't particularly appeal to me, as I find it a bit preachy and long winded. The actual story with its bare bones is pacy and exciting, squeaky heroines, gruff manly heroes, lots of action and derring do, but it is a tad too formulaic for my liking.

worth it, 20 Jul 2007
As a fair few reviews have stated, the language used in this book can be somewhat of a barrier. I was 16 when I read this book, and only thought of reading it after seeing the film. The film touched me a great deal and so I was interested in seeing how the read would compare.
As mentioned, I was 16, and managed to understand the book through till end, and found that gradually the old slang, or language, easier to read.
If you enjoy reading, and are willing to put in the time to read slowly and understand the words in this great novel, then it really is worth the read. It's a story of great morals, love and loss and I really would reccomend it.
Few books manage to bring tears to my eyes, but this book did and has definately brought alot of insight into the fabulous world of native indian culture.


Hard work, 02 Jan 2007
I found the language used in this quite tough. His descriptions really do put the images wonderfully in ones mind, but the problem is the sentences can sometimes stretch to an entire paragraph. These things make it difficult to read at time, and a bit of a labour. Also, on rare occasions, the characters start to converse in French, without any kind of translation.
Saying that, the plot is superb, and so different from the film it almost seems to defy belief. For example, there is no love story with hawk-eye and Cora, nor does Duncan Heyward desire the latter. Major Heyward is interested in Alice and Uncas has a fleeting interest in Cora. There is an additional character, in David Gamut, who confuses the Hurons with his bizarre songs so much that they thing he has mental problems. In this book Montcalm actively encourages the massacre of William Henry, and there is a rather brutal act from one of the Hurons.
Colonel Munro escapes the gory fate of the film because there is no blood vengeance at the heart of this story. And it all culminates in a battle of the Delawares (led by Le Cerf Agile) against Magua (Le Renard Subtil) and the Hurons.
It could not be any more different from the dramatisation if it tried, and so is readily recommended to those who have seen the film and think there is little extra to be gleaned from the book. There is a sub story of the abuse of the natural world and the treatment of the indeginous peoples of the Americas, and in some of the admonishments of Hawk-eye you can see the passion of the author.

Good read, 15 Nov 2005
Cooper dives into the action quickly and keeps the pace up throughout the novel. The central characters enemies are precariously close to their heels throughout the chase, keeping the readers interest through tension and stoking it when the are overtaken.

Very accessible language considering the time it was written, however a minor point being Coopers seemingly incesant use of the word 'countenance' was mildly irritating.

a good book, 18 Mar 2008
This is the first in the series of five Leatherstocking Tales from James Fenimore Cooper, meaning the one where the character of Natty Bumpo is introduced as a young man. I once received the whole set of the tales as a child but never managed to read them to completion and am now doing just that. This is why I chose to read The Deerslayer first of all in order to get the chronology right.

The young Deerslayer, as his Delaware friends call him, has not yet gone on his first warpath and is in the process of doing so with his friend Chingachkook. Both have not yet faught an enemy and the novel is a good deal about this introduction to what it means to be living with the Native Americans of this time. It is also a good deal about the differences between the "white man" and the "red man". Natty is constantly pressing home the point that these two peoples are very different in the way they live their lives and he stresses how he is white and that he possesses his own "gifts" as does his indian friend.

It's fascinating simply because of the outmoded language used throughout, written in the way that a story needed to be in the 1800's. Considering that Cooper had written his first tale in 1823 there were not so many intervening years between the the 1750's and the early 1800's. In other words, history lingered and was not so distant. In this sense Cooper must have captured a good deal of the way of life of the time that he writes about.

The book has some weaknesses, for example: the actions taking place are often discussed in a long-winded manner when in fact quick thinking and little talking would have been the way these things were done since danger was close at hand and no time for such discussion would have been available when the slightest sound could have meant death. I disagree with the some of the other reviewers in that I do not consider the action scenes to be unrealistic. Stories of the trappers and hunters often tell of running battles where your wits kept you alive. Even then, to say the least, remarkable steadiness of Deerslayer under extreme circumstances is not unheard of although close to unbelievable.

A good book but it doesn't have the flowing movement of "The Last of the Mohicans".

Document of times past, 10 Oct 2007
Cooper's novel about the entrance into manhood of his hero Natty Bumppo (aka 'Leatherstocking' or 'Hawkeye') is no easy reading: the language is fairly obsolete, many of the morals and values Natty believes in and stands for are out-dated, and the action is at times incredible. But then again, there's no denying that this is also a well-written adventure story (one of the first), and has become part of the American heritage.

If you're looking for an entertaining book to read on some beach or other I'd suggest you look elsewhere, but if you have time on your hands and are interested in the origins of adventure literature this is a must read.

Holds Your Interest!, 12 Jun 2006
"The Deerslayer" is the sequentially first in the Leatherstocking series of America's first, great, professional novelist, James Fenimore Cooper. I read it in preparation for a trip to Cooperstown, New York and I am glad that I did. Set in upstate New York in the 1740s, it provides the reader with an idolized introduction to the society of white and red of this colonial frontier.

The criticisms that the dialogue and actions are totally unbelievable, while justified, do not detract from the story. While the simple, faith-filled actions of the "Feeble Minded Hetty" and the dialogue between Deerslayer and Chingachgook seem highly improbable, the do hold the readers' interest. While I am generally not one to pick up readily on character development, this novel is an exception. The contrast between Deerslayer and Chingachgook, the romance between Chingachgook and Wah-ta-Wah
, the romantic web among Judith, Hurry Harry and Deerslayer, and the varying responses to changes in circumstance coming from sisters Judith and Hetty all contribute to the persistent popularity of this work.

Despite all the criticisms directed against Cooper as to form, the one thing that cannot be denied is that this book is very difficult to put down. I found myself always wondering what would come next and what would happen to the characters whom I had come to know. Whether you are looking for an insight into early American literature or just a good story, your search should lead to "The Deerslayer". "


A classic American saga begins, 17 Jan 2006
Chronologically the first of the Leatherstocking Tales about trapper Nathaniel Bumpo, this sets the feel for the rest of the series even though it wasn't the first one written. The Deerslayer of the title is Nathaniel who earns his name of "Hawkeye", for which he is more famous, in this book from the first enemy he ever kills. If the saga is read chronologically, "The Deerslayer" is a good introduction to the character of Natty Bumpo (although I read "The Last Of the Mohicans" first).

It is a story based around the themes of honesty, morality, understanding your own individuality and staying true to your values, told at the steady pace that James Fenimore Cooper uses in his other books. There are several plot parallels that can be drawn with some of his other works, especially "The Last Of The Mohicans", but to describe them would give too much of the plot away.

Although the book has its tense and exciting moments, the dreamy and picturesque style of the narrative can make it drag, and quite frankly I thought the story could have been told using maybe three-quarters of the paper. But that said the narrative does allow a lot of insight into the characters' mind-frames, which allows a greater empathy with them.

A good story but not really a page-turner.

Convoluted, involving historical tale of early America, 01 Oct 2008
I read all of James Fennimore Cooper's novels in a fever of curiosity about American history about ten years ago, and undoubtedly he is remembered for the right one - the colossal rag-tag tale that is "The Last of the Mohicans". The others are interesting, but never achieve the same narrative drive and sheer impressive drama. There have been numerous attempts to bring it to the big screen, the most memorable in our time being Michael Mann's epic film of the same name in 1992. But the original is not quite like anything else. To read it in the modern age you have to swallow certain reservations, certain prejudices of our own - more on this later.

First, the story. It's the French and Indian wars in 18th century America; the French and English are battling for supremacy over this incredible resource, a new and terrifically important colony. Virgin forests, hundreds of tribes, the land of the east coast of America was the setting for unheard-of upheaval and destruction, and absolutely everybody was caught up in it. It's hard now to calmly assess the horrific arrogance of both the British (yup, that's me) and the French in their casual assumption that whoever gained military supremacy over this land would, literally, own it, quite regardless of the actual, long-time inhabitants. Of course, Cooper's 19th century America was no less arrogantly assuming ownership of the continent, the Indians being to them little more than a costly and dangerous thorn in their side. I generalise, of course: we all have our demons to exorcise. No British subject should forget our own sordid imperial past.

In this setting, the story revolves around the impact on the lives of two sisters, lost in the woods, of a family party that rescue them, again and again: the Mohican Chingachgook, otherwise known as Le Gros Serpent, his son Uncas, and his adopted white son Hawkeye, also known as Natty Bumppo or La Longue Carabine (The Long Rifle). Their attempts to bring the sisters to safety form the basis of the story, and numerous armies, tribes and other characters cross their path in the dramatic and dangerous journey, surely the most important of which is Magua, the vengeful Huron Indian who has a long-cherished hatred of the sisters.

I think Cooper's reputation is tarnished now; but the 1930 screenplay on which Mann's film is based seems to me to be cut from very similar cloth. Cooper, despite shades of bigotry, and for all his faults, gave a voice to all the many tribes of Indians about whom he writes in this novel. He names them; assigns them characteristics and gives them a voice and a decisive part in the action: these are not mere, faceless `Indians' of the type much beloved by Hollywood cinema of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The motivation of his prime villain, the multi-lingual Magua, is explored and taken in context. **Spoiler** Uncas, the warrior son of Chingachgook and the last of the Mohicans, falls for Cora. Cooper's racism is that of assuming that his readers would agree with him that it was out of the question that Uncas' love for Cora could be realised or even taken very seriously. But despite this note - which, today, is sour for me - you know these people very well by the end of the book.

Some of Cooper's modern-day readers will be unable to forgive his casual contemporary racism. If so, reading modern American Indian authors such as Adrian C Louis may help redress the imbalance. Better still: if you feel part of the still-excluded `Other', write your own stories. It's unfortunate that the modern world favours the written word over the oral tradition, to which American Indian history is so tied. However, if you can take Cooper in context, forgive his foibles, and appreciate what he did achieve, and what he did positively do, you'll find in this novel (of which the NC Wyeth illustrated version is the best) a fascinating, sprawling narrative that will tell you a great deal about American fear and American life as shaped by the events of this incredibly turbulent time.

Surprisingly tough going, 01 Jul 2008
I began reading Cooper's arguably most famous work with high expectations. Sadly, I was disappointed. The characters are dreadfully clichéd, and their wooden dialogue gets infuriating. Hawkeye, moreover, is quite a disagreeably arrogant character throughout most of the novel. Nonetheless, Cooper manages a nice frontier adventure which brings to life the never-never land of eighteenth-century America. I recommend for comparison Michael Mann's 1992 adaptation of the novel, which remedies all of the above flaws and is one of the best adventure films of all time.

worth every penny, 04 Apr 2008
This is the second book in the Leatherstocking Tales which spans an entire life of a single man: Natty Bumpo otherwise known as Deerslayer in the first book, Hawkeye in this one, Pasthfinder in the third book and Leatherstocking in the ones to follow, or just Natty. The Deerslayer concentrated on the early years, his early twenties whereas in this book he has become an experienced scout, hunter and is known throughout the colonies as Hawkeye for his exceptional shooting ability with the rifle known as Killdeer, first obtained in the Deerslayer. Natty is now about 35 years old. Suffice it to say, he is now a man of renown. It starts when he is engaged in rescuing the daughters of Colonel Munro from the revengeful Magua who was whipped by Colonel Munro and swore vengence on the children of Munro. It also covers the time of Braddock's defeat after the loss of Fort William Henry. It discusses, in earnest, the decline of the Native American population in the East. It does this through the tale of Uncas the son of Natty's friend Chingachgok. Uncas becomes a kind of symbol of this decline, a brave warrior with great vigour, constitution and heart the story shows that the sun is beginning to set on the native peoples even though they are yet strong and vigorous.

By far the best of the tales I have so far read, having read the first three. It is more dynamic than the other tales and the story moves forward quickly. It is again written in that old style of the 1800's which has its own character and is not unpleasant to read. I enjoyed this book a great deal.

N.B. The Last of the Mohicans is very different from the film of the same name starring Daniel Day Lewis. In fact I would say the story of the original bears very little resemblance to the film.

Truely a classic, 22 Feb 2008
For a book that was written in 1826 it still say alot for the world today. If people read the book in expecting it to be anything like the film with Daniel Day Lewis they would be mistaken. The book starts with the Mohicans and their white brother (Chingahook, Uncas and Hawk eye aka Natty Bumppo) who help protect the daughters of General Munro (Cora and Alice) against the savage trickery and cruelty of Magua, a Huron. The book follows their journeys together climaxing with a final confrontation, which ends the lives of some beloved characters.
To read this you will need to vaguely comprehend (or have a dictionary to hand) French, but this doesn't occur much. The book is beautifully written, but does take a while to get used to, but it is well worth the effort.

Worth the wait, 18 Sep 2001
First a confession: 'The Last of the Mohicans' had been on my bookshelf for four years and I'd never got past the third chapter. But with a five week break between jobs, I knew that if I didn't read it now, I never would. The first half of the book is slow, and Cooper's language is not easy on the modern eye. As other reviewers have pointed out, the plot does seem in places tenuous and the narrative over descriptive, but the book's strength is the brilliant characterisation. Despite the setting, as the story develops, the reader can identify strongly with the hopes and fears of the main characters. My fear on first opening this book that it would be irrelevant to my life proved wrong.

This book may be hard-going, but it's worth reading. You need to take some time over it and persevere with the first half, but when you finish the book you'll feel it was worth it.

Heavy going, 28 Jun 2008
A classic adventure involving escape from the bad guys, rescue by some brooding hero(s), more escapes, unpleasant deaths for some of the good guys and most of the bad guys, and a happy ending for the survivors. This is a recommended classic, an interesting story and on the list for those who want to improve their mind.

However, I found the language very flowery and such heavy going that I eventually gave up, which I don't do easily. It's an exciting story and well worth hearing, but if you don't want to wade through a book full of artistic prose then go see the film instead, it's very good.

One of those books perhaps better seen on film, 22 Nov 2007
This is one of those books where the film adaptation actually does it credit rather than a disservice. It is fairly long winded in novel form with many digressions, which the film, thankfully cuts out! It's a bit like Lord of the Rings without the dreary poetry.
Here, the action centres around the protagonist, Natty Bumpo and his adventures with the native Americans and has lots of fighting in it! It is all about bravery, nobility, the true mettle of a man etc. It has all the themes you look for in a great American novel, man finding his true self by carving a path through the wilderness and coming into his own.
This is all well and good, but doesn't particularly appeal to me, as I find it a bit preachy and long winded. The actual story with its bare bones is pacy and exciting, squeaky heroines, gruff manly heroes, lots of action and derring do, but it is a tad too formulaic for my liking.

worth it, 20 Jul 2007
As a fair few reviews have stated, the language used in this book can be somewhat of a barrier. I was 16 when I read this book, and only thought of reading it after seeing the film. The film touched me a great deal and so I was interested in seeing how the read would compare.
As mentioned, I was 16, and managed to understand the book through till end, and found that gradually the old slang, or language, easier to read.
If you enjoy reading, and are willing to put in the time to read slowly and understand the words in this great novel, then it really is worth the read. It's a story of great morals, love and loss and I really would reccomend it.
Few books manage to bring tears to my eyes, but this book did and has definately brought alot of insight into the fabulous world of native indian culture.


Hard work, 02 Jan 2007
I found the language used in this quite tough. His descriptions really do put the images wonderfully in ones mind, but the problem is the sentences can sometimes stretch to an entire paragraph. These things make it difficult to read at time, and a bit of a labour. Also, on rare occasions, the characters start to converse in French, without any kind of translation.
Saying that, the plot is superb, and so different from the film it almost seems to defy belief. For example, there is no love story with hawk-eye and Cora, nor does Duncan Heyward desire the latter. Major Heyward is interested in Alice and Uncas has a fleeting interest in Cora. There is an additional character, in David Gamut, who confuses the Hurons with his bizarre songs so much that they thing he has mental problems. In this book Montcalm actively encourages the massacre of William Henry, and there is a rather brutal act from one of the Hurons.
Colonel Munro escapes the gory fate of the film because there is no blood vengeance at the heart of this story. And it all culminates in a battle of the Delawares (led by Le Cerf Agile) against Magua (Le Renard Subtil) and the Hurons.
It could not be any more different from the dramatisation if it tried, and so is readily recommended to those who have seen the film and think there is little extra to be gleaned from the book. There is a sub story of the abuse of the natural world and the treatment of the indeginous peoples of the Americas, and in some of the admonishments of Hawk-eye you can see the passion of the author.

Good read, 15 Nov 2005
Cooper dives into the action quickly and keeps the pace up throughout the novel. The central characters enemies are precariously close to their heels throughout the chase, keeping the readers interest through tension and stoking it when the are overtaken.

Very accessible language considering the time it was written, however a minor point being Coopers seemingly incesant use of the word 'countenance' was mildly irritating.

a good book, 18 Mar 2008
This is the first in the series of five Leatherstocking Tales from James Fenimore Cooper, meaning the one where the character of Natty Bumpo is introduced as a young man. I once received the whole set of the tales as a child but never managed to read them to completion and am now doing just that. This is why I chose to read The Deerslayer first of all in order to get the chronology right.

The young Deerslayer, as his Delaware friends call him, has not yet gone on his first warpath and is in the process of doing so with his friend Chingachkook. Both have not yet faught an enemy and the novel is a good deal about this introduction to what it means to be living with the Native Americans of this time. It is also a good deal about the differences between the "white man" and the "red man". Natty is constantly pressing home the point that these two peoples are very different in the way they live their lives and he stresses how he is white and that he possesses his own "gifts" as does his indian friend.

It's fascinating simply because of the outmoded language used throughout, written in the way that a story needed to be in the 1800's. Considering that Cooper had written his first tale in 1823 there were not so many intervening years between the the 1750's and the early 1800's. In other words, history lingered and was not so distant. In this sense Cooper must have captured a good deal of the way of life of the time that he writes about.

The book has some weaknesses, for example: the actions taking place are often discussed in a long-winded manner when in fact quick thinking and little talking would have been the way these things were done since danger was close at hand and no time for such discussion would have been available when the slightest sound could have meant death. I disagree with the some of the other reviewers in that I do not consider the action scenes to be unrealistic. Stories of the trappers and hunters often tell of running battles where your wits kept you alive. Even then, to say the least, remarkable steadiness of Deerslayer under extreme circumstances is not unheard of although close to unbelievable.

A good book but it doesn't have the flowing movement of "The Last of the Mohicans".

Document of times past, 10 Oct 2007
Cooper's novel about the entrance into manhood of his hero Natty Bumppo (aka 'Leatherstocking' or 'Hawkeye') is no easy reading: the language is fairly obsolete, many of the morals and values Natty believes in and stands for are out-dated, and the action is at times incredible. But then again, there's no denying that this is also a well-written adventure story (one of the first), and has become part of the American heritage.

If you're looking for an entertaining book to read on some beach or other I'd suggest you look elsewhere, but if you have time on your hands and are interested in the origins of adventure literature this is a must read.

Holds Your Interest!, 12 Jun 2006
"The Deerslayer" is the sequentially first in the Leatherstocking series of America's first, great, professional novelist, James Fenimore Cooper. I read it in preparation for a trip to Cooperstown, New York and I am glad that I did. Set in upstate New York in the 1740s, it provides the reader with an idolized introduction to the society of white and red of this colonial frontier.

The criticisms that the dialogue and actions are totally unbelievable, while justified, do not detract from the story. While the simple, faith-filled actions of the "Feeble Minded Hetty" and the dialogue between Deerslayer and Chingachgook seem highly improbable, the do hold the readers' interest. While I am generally not one to pick up readily on character development, this novel is an exception. The contrast between Deerslayer and Chingachgook, the romance between Chingachgook and Wah-ta-Wah
, the romantic web among Judith, Hurry Harry and Deerslayer, and the varying responses to changes in circumstance coming from sisters Judith and Hetty all contribute to the persistent popularity of this work.

Despite all the criticisms directed against Cooper as to form, the one thing that cannot be denied is that this book is very difficult to put down. I found myself always wondering what would come next and what would happen to the characters whom I had come to know. Whether you are looking for an insight into early American literature or just a good story, your search should lead to "The Deerslayer". "


A classic American saga begins, 17 Jan 2006
Chronologically the first of the Leatherstocking Tales about trapper Nathaniel Bumpo, this sets the feel for the rest of the series even though it wasn't the first one written. The Deerslayer of the title is Nathaniel who earns his name of "Hawkeye", for which he is more famous, in this book from the first enemy he ever kills. If the saga is read chronologically, "The Deerslayer" is a good introduction to the character of Natty Bumpo (although I read "The Last Of the Mohicans" first).

It is a story based around the themes of honesty, morality, understanding your own individuality and staying true to your values, told at the steady pace that James Fenimore Cooper uses in his other books. There are several plot parallels that can be drawn with some of his other works, especially "The Last Of The Mohicans", but to describe them would give too much of the plot away.

Although the book has its tense and exciting moments, the dreamy and picturesque style of the narrative can make it drag, and quite frankly I thought the story could have been told using maybe three-quarters of the paper. But that said the narrative does allow a lot of insight into the characters' mind-frames, which allows a greater empathy with them.

A good story but not really a page-turner.

a good book, 18 Mar 2008
This is the first in the series of five Leatherstocking Tales from James Fenimore Cooper, meaning the one where the character of Natty Bumpo is introduced as a young man. I once received the whole set of the tales as a child but never managed to read them to completion and am now doing just that. This is why I chose to read The Deerslayer first of all in order to get the chronology right.

The young Deerslayer, as his Delaware friends call him, has not yet gone on his first warpath and is in the process of doing so with his friend Chingachkook. Both have not yet faught an enemy and the novel is a good deal about this introduction to what it means to be living with the Native Americans of this time. It is also a good deal about the differences between the "white man" and the "red man". Natty is constantly pressing home the point that these two peoples are very different in the way they live their lives and he stresses how he is white and that he possesses his own "gifts" as does his indian friend.

It's fascinating simply because of the outmoded language used throughout, written in the way that a story needed to be in the 1800's. Considering that Cooper had written his first tale in 1823 there were not so many intervening years between the the 1750's and the early 1800's. In other words, history lingered and was not so distant. In this sense Cooper must have captured a good deal of the way of life of the time that he writes about.

The book has some weaknesses, for example: the actions taking place are often discussed in a long-winded manner when in fact quick thinking and little talking would have been the way these things were done since danger was close at hand and no time for such discussion would have been available when the slightest sound could have meant death. I disagree with the some of the other reviewers in that I do not consider the action scenes to be unrealistic. Stories of the trappers and hunters often tell of running battles where your wits kept you alive. Even then, to say the least, remarkable steadiness of Deerslayer under extreme circumstances is not unheard of although close to unbelievable.

A good book but it doesn't have the flowing movement of "The Last of the Mohicans".

Document of times past, 10 Oct 2007
Cooper's novel about the entrance into manhood of his hero Natty Bumppo (aka 'Leatherstocking' or 'Hawkeye') is no easy reading: the language is fairly obsolete, many of the morals and values Natty believes in and stands for are out-dated, and the action is at times incredible. But then again, there's no denying that this is also a well-written adventure story (one of the first), and has become part of the American heritage.

If you're looking for an entertaining book to read on some beach or other I'd suggest you look elsewhere, but if you have time on your hands and are interested in the origins of adventure literature this is a must read.

Holds Your Interest!, 12 Jun 2006
"The Deerslayer" is the sequentially first in the Leatherstocking series of America's first, great, professional novelist, James Fenimore Cooper. I read it in preparation for a trip to Cooperstown, New York and I am glad that I did. Set in upstate New York in the 1740s, it provides the reader with an idolized introduction to the society of white and red of this colonial frontier.

The criticisms that the dialogue and actions are totally unbelievable, while justified, do not detract from the story. While the simple, faith-filled actions of the "Feeble Minded Hetty" and the dialogue between Deerslayer and Chingachgook seem highly improbable, the do hold the readers' interest. While I am generally not one to pick up readily on character development, this novel is an exception. The contrast between Deerslayer and Chingachgook, the romance between Chingachgook and Wah-ta-Wah
, the romantic web among Judith, Hurry Harry and Deerslayer, and the varying responses to changes in circumstance coming from sisters Judith and Hetty all contribute to the persistent popularity of this work.

Despite all the criticisms directed against Cooper as to form, the one thing that cannot be denied is that this book is very difficult to put down. I found myself always wondering what would come next and what would happen to the characters whom I had come to know. Whether you are looking for an insight into early American literature or just a good story, your search should lead to "The Deerslayer". "


A classic American saga begins, 17 Jan 2006
Chronologically the first of the Leatherstocking Tales about trapper Nathaniel Bumpo, this sets the feel for the rest of the series even though it wasn't the first one written. The Deerslayer of the title is Nathaniel who earns his name of "Hawkeye", for which he is more famous, in this book from the first enemy he ever kills. If the saga is read chronologically, "The Deerslayer" is a good introduction to the character of Natty Bumpo (although I read "The Last Of the Mohicans" first).

It is a story based around the themes of honesty, morality, understanding your own individuality and staying true to your values, told at the steady pace that James Fenimore Cooper uses in his other books. There are several plot parallels that can be drawn with some of his other works, especially "The Last Of The Mohicans", but to describe them would give too much of the plot away.

Although the book has its tense and exciting moments, the dreamy and picturesque style of the narrative can make it drag, and quite frankly I thought the story could have been told using maybe three-quarters of the paper. But that said the narrative does allow a lot of insight into the characters' mind-frames, which allows a greater empathy with them.

A good story but not really a page-turner.

Convoluted, involving historical tale of early America, 01 Oct 2008
I read all of James Fennimore Cooper's novels in a fever of curiosity about American history about ten years ago, and undoubtedly he is remembered for the right one - the colossal rag-tag tale that is "The Last of the Mohicans". The others are interesting, but never achieve the same narrative drive and sheer impressive drama. There have been numerous attempts to bring it to the big screen, the most memorable in our time being Michael Mann's epic film of the same name in 1992. But the original is not quite like anything else. To read it in the modern age you have to swallow certain reservations, certain prejudices of our own - more on this later.

First, the story. It's the French and Indian wars in 18th century America; the French and English are battling for supremacy over this incredible resource, a new and terrifically important colony. Virgin forests, hundreds of tribes, the land of the east coast of America was the setting for unheard-of upheaval and destruction, and absolutely everybody was caught up in it. It's hard now to calmly assess the horrific arrogance of both the British (yup, that's me) and the French in their casual assumption that whoever gained military supremacy over this land would, literally, own it, quite regardless of the actual, long-time inhabitants. Of course, Cooper's 19th century America was no less arrogantly assuming ownership of the continent, the Indians being to them little more than a costly and dangerous thorn in their side. I generalise, of course: we all have our demons to exorcise. No British subject should forget our own sordid imperial past.

In this setting, the story revolves around the impact on the lives of two sisters, lost in the woods, of a family party that rescue them, again and again: the Mohican Chingachgook, otherwise known as Le Gros Serpent, his son Uncas, and his adopted white son Hawkeye, also known as Natty Bumppo or La Longue Carabine (The Long Rifle). Their attempts to bring the sisters to safety form the basis of the story, and numerous armies, tribes and other characters cross their path in the dramatic and dangerous journey, surely the most important of which is Magua, the vengeful Huron Indian who has a long-cherished hatred of the sisters.

I think Cooper's reputation is tarnished now; but the 1930 screenplay on which Mann's film is based seems to me to be cut from very similar cloth. Cooper, despite shades of bigotry, and for all his faults, gave a voice to all the many tribes of Indians about whom he writes in this novel. He names them; assigns them characteristics and gives them a voice and a decisive part in the action: these are not mere, faceless `Indians' of the type much beloved by Hollywood cinema of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The motivation of his prime villain, the multi-lingual Magua, is explored and taken in context. **Spoiler** Uncas, the warrior son of Chingachgook and the last of the Mohicans, falls for Cora. Cooper's racism is that of assuming that his readers would agree with him that it was out of the question that Uncas' love for Cora could be realised or even taken very seriously. But despite this note - which, today, is sour for me - you know these people very well by the end of the book.

Some of Cooper's modern-day readers will be unable to forgive his casual contemporary racism. If so, reading modern American Indian authors such as Adrian C Louis may help redress the imbalance. Better still: if you feel part of the still-excluded `Other', write your own stories. It's unfortunate that the modern world favours the written word over the oral tradition, to which American Indian history is so tied. However, if you can take Cooper in context, forgive his foibles, and appreciate what he did achieve, and what he did positively do, you'll find in this novel (of which the NC Wyeth illustrated version is the best) a fascinating, sprawling narrative that will tell you a great deal about American fear and American life as shaped by the events of this incredibly turbulent time.

Surprisingly tough going, 01 Jul 2008
I began reading Cooper's arguably most famous work with high expectations. Sadly, I was disappointed. The characters are dreadfully clichéd, and their wooden dialogue gets infuriating. Hawkeye, moreover, is quite a disagreeably arrogant character throughout most of the novel. Nonetheless, Cooper manages a nice frontier adventure which brings to life the never-never land of eighteenth-century America. I recommend for comparison Michael Mann's 1992 adaptation of the novel, which remedies all of the above flaws and is one of the best adventure films of all time.

worth every penny, 04 Apr 2008
This is the second book in the Leatherstocking Tales which spans an entire life of a single man: Natty Bumpo otherwise known as Deerslayer in the first book, Hawkeye in this one, Pasthfinder in the third book and Leatherstocking in the ones to follow, or just Natty. The Deerslayer concentrated on the early years, his early twenties whereas in this book he has become an experienced scout, hunter and is known throughout the colonies as Hawkeye for his exceptional shooting ability with the rifle known as Killdeer, first obtained in the Deerslayer. Natty is now about 35 years old. Suffice it to say, he is now a man of renown. It starts when he is engaged in rescuing the daughters of Colonel Munro from the revengeful Magua who was whipped by Colonel Munro and swore vengence on the children of Munro. It also covers the time of Braddock's defeat after the loss of Fort William Henry. It discusses, in earnest, the decline of the Native American population in the East. It does this through the tale of Uncas the son of Natty's friend Chingachgok. Uncas becomes a kind of symbol of this decline, a brave warrior with great vigour, constitution and heart the story shows that the sun is beginning to set on the native peoples even though they are yet strong and vigorous.

By far the best of the tales I have so far read, having read the first three. It is more dynamic than the other tales and the story moves forward quickly. It is again written in that old style of the 1800's which has its own character and is not unpleasant to read. I enjoyed this book a great deal.

N.B. The Last of the Mohicans is very different from the film of the same name starring Daniel Day Lewis. In fact I would say the story of the original bears very little resemblance to the film.

Truely a classic, 22 Feb 2008
For a book that was written in 1826 it still say alot for the world today. If people read the book in expecting it to be anything like the film with Daniel Day Lewis they would be mistaken. The book starts with the Mohicans and their white brother (Chingahook, Uncas and Hawk eye aka Natty Bumppo) who help protect the daughters of General Munro (Cora and Alice) against the savage trickery and cruelty of Magua, a Huron. The book follows their journeys together climaxing with a final confrontation, which ends the lives of some beloved characters.
To read this you will need to vaguely comprehend (or have a dictionary to hand) French, but this doesn't occur much. The book is beautifully written, but does take a while to get used to, but it is well worth the effort.

Worth the wait, 18 Sep 2001
First a confession: 'The Last of the Mohicans' had been on my bookshelf for four years and I'd never got past the third chapter. But with a five week break between jobs, I knew that if I didn't read it now, I never would. The first half of the book is slow, and Cooper's language is not easy on the modern eye. As other reviewers have pointed out, the plot does seem in places tenuous and the narrative over descriptive, but the book's strength is the brilliant characterisation. Despite the setting, as the story develops, the reader can identify strongly with the hopes and fears of the main characters. My fear on first opening this book that it would be irrelevant to my life proved wrong.

This book may be hard-going, but it's worth reading. You need to take some time over it and persevere with the first half, but when you finish the book you'll feel it was worth it.

Heavy going, 28 Jun 2008
A classic adventure involving escape from the bad guys, rescue by some brooding hero(s), more escapes, unpleasant deaths for some of the good guys and most of the bad guys, and a happy ending for the survivors. This is a recommended classic, an interesting story and on the list for those who want to improve their mind.

However, I found the language very flowery and such heavy going that I eventually gave up, which I don't do easily. It's an exciting story and well worth hearing, but if you don't want to wade through a book full of artistic prose then go see the film instead, it's very good.

One of those books perhaps better seen on film, 22 Nov 2007
This is one of those books where the film adaptation actually does it credit rather than a disservice. It is fairly long winded in novel form with many digressions, which the film, thankfully cuts out! It's a bit like Lord of the Rings without the dreary poetry.
Here, the action centres around the protagonist, Natty Bumpo and his adventures with the native Americans and has lots of fighting in it! It is all about bravery, nobility, the true mettle of a man etc. It has all the themes you look for in a great American novel, man finding his true self by carving a path through the wilderness and coming into his own.
This is all well and good, but doesn't particularly appeal to me, as I find it a bit preachy and long winded. The actual story with its bare bones is pacy and exciting, squeaky heroines, gruff manly heroes, lots of action and derring do, but it is a tad too formulaic for my liking.

worth it, 20 Jul 2007
As a fair few reviews have stated, the language used in this book can be somewhat of a barrier. I was 16 when I read this book, and only thought of reading it after seeing the film. The film touched me a great deal and so I was interested in seeing how the read would compare.
As mentioned, I was 16, and managed to understand the book through till end, and found that gradually the old slang, or language, easier to read.
If you enjoy reading, and are willing to put in the time to read slowly and understand the words in this great novel, then it really is worth the read. It's a story of great morals, love and loss and I really would reccomend it.
Few books manage to bring tears to my eyes, but this book did and has definately brought alot of insight into the fabulous world of native indian culture.


Hard work, 02 Jan 2007
I found the language used in this quite tough. His descriptions really do put the images wonderfully in ones mind, but the problem is the sentences can sometimes stretch to an entire paragraph. These things make it difficult to read at time, and a bit of a labour. Also, on rare occasions, the characters start to converse in French, without any kind of translation.
Saying that, the plot is superb, and so different from the film it almost seems to defy belief. For example, there is no love story with hawk-eye and Cora, nor does Duncan Heyward desire the latter. Major Heyward is interested in Alice and Uncas has a fleeting interest in Cora. There is an additional character, in David Gamut, who confuses the Hurons with his bizarre songs so much that they thing he has mental problems. In this book Montcalm actively encourages the massacre of William Henry, and there is a rather brutal act from one of the Hurons.
Colonel Munro escapes the gory fate of the film because there is no blood vengeance at the heart of this story. And it all culminates in a battle of the Delawares (led by Le Cerf Agile) against Magua (Le Renard Subtil) and the Hurons.
It could not be any more different from the dramatisation if it tried, and so is readily recommended to those who have seen the film and think there is little extra to be gleaned from the book. There is a sub story of the abuse of the natural world and the treatment of the indeginous peoples of the Americas, and in some of the admonishments of Hawk-eye you can see the passion of the author.

Good read, 15 Nov 2005
Cooper dives into the action quickly and keeps the pace up throughout the novel. The central characters enemies are precariously close to their heels throughout the chase, keeping the readers interest through tension and stoking it when the are overtaken.

Very accessible language considering the time it was written, however a minor point being Coopers seemingly incesant use of the word 'countenance' was mildly irritating.

a good book, 18 Mar 2008
This is the first in the series of five Leatherstocking Tales from James Fenimore Cooper, meaning the one where the character of Natty Bumpo is introduced as a young man. I once received the whole set of the tales as a child but never managed to read them to completion and am now doing just that. This is why I chose to read The Deerslayer first of all in order to get the chronology right.

The young Deerslayer, as his Delaware friends call him, has not yet gone on his first warpath and is in the process of doing so with his friend Chingachkook. Both have not yet faught an enemy and the novel is a good deal about this introduction to what it means to be living with the Native Americans of this time. It is also a good deal about the differences between the "white man" and the "red man". Natty is constantly pressing home the point that these two peoples are very different in the way they live their lives and he stresses how he is white and that he possesses his own "gifts" as does his indian friend.

It's fascinating simply because of the outmoded language used throughout, written in the way that a story needed to be in the 1800's. Considering that Cooper had written his first tale in 1823 there were not so many intervening years between the the 1750's and the early 1800's. In other words, history lingered and was not so distant. In this sense Cooper must have captured a good deal of the way of life of the time that he writes about.

The book has some weaknesses, for example: the actions taking place are often discussed in a long-winded manner when in fact quick thinking and little talking would have been the way these things were done since danger was close at hand and no time for such discussion would have been available when the slightest sound could have meant death. I disagree with the some of the other reviewers in that I do not consider the action scenes to be unrealistic. Stories of the trappers and hunters often tell of running battles where your wits kept you alive. Even then, to say the least, remarkable steadiness of Deerslayer under extreme circumstances is not unheard of although close to unbelievable.

A good book but it doesn't have the flowing movement of "The Last of the Mohicans".

Document of times past, 10 Oct 2007
Cooper's novel about the entrance into manhood of his hero Natty Bumppo (aka 'Leatherstocking' or 'Hawkeye') is no easy reading: the language is fairly obsolete, many of the morals and values Natty believes in and stands for are out-dated, and the action is at times incredible. But then again, there's no denying that this is also a well-written adventure story (one of the first), and has become part of the American heritage.

If you're looking for an entertaining book to read on some beach or other I'd suggest you look elsewhere, but if you have time on your hands and are interested in the origins of adventure literature this is a must read.

Holds Your Interest!, 12 Jun 2006
"The Deerslayer" is the sequentially first in the Leatherstocking series of America's first, great, professional novelist, James Fenimore Cooper. I read it in preparation for a trip to Cooperstown, New York and I am glad that I did. Set in upstate New York in the 1740s, it provides the reader with an idolized introduction to the society of white and red of this colonial frontier.

The criticisms that the dialogue and actions are totally unbelievable, while justified, do not detract from the story. While the simple, faith-filled actions of the "Feeble Minded Hetty" and the dialogue between Deerslayer and Chingachgook seem highly improbable, the do hold the readers' interest. While I am generally not one to pick up readily on character development, this novel is an exception. The contrast between Deerslayer and Chingachgook, the romance between Chingachgook and Wah-ta-Wah
, the romantic web among Judith, Hurry Harry and Deerslayer, and the varying responses to changes in circumstance coming from sisters Judith and Hetty all contribute to the persistent popularity of this work.

Despite all the criticisms directed against Cooper as to form, the one thing that cannot be denied is that this book is very difficult to put down. I found myself always wondering what would come next and what would happen to the characters whom I had come to know. Whether you are looking for an insight into early American literature or just a good story, your search should lead to "The Deerslayer". "


A classic American saga begins, 17 Jan 2006
Chronologically the first of the Leatherstocking Tales about trapper Nathaniel Bumpo, this sets the feel for the rest of the series even though it wasn't the first one written. The Deerslayer of the title is Nathaniel who earns his name of "Hawkeye", for which he is more famous, in this book from the first enemy he ever kills. If the saga is read chronologically, "The Deerslayer" is a good introduction to the character of Natty Bumpo (although I read "The Last Of the Mohicans" first).

It is a story based around the themes of honesty, morality, understanding your own individuality and staying true to your values, told at the steady pace that James Fenimore Cooper uses in his other books. There are several plot parallels that can be drawn with some of his other works, especially "The Last Of The Mohicans", but to describe them would give too much of the plot away.

Although the book has its tense and exciting moments, the dreamy and picturesque style of the narrative can make it drag, and quite frankly I thought the story could have been told using maybe three-quarters of the paper. But that said the narrative does allow a lot of insight into the characters' mind-frames, which allows a greater empathy with them.

A good story but not really a page-turner.

a good book, 18 Mar 2008
This is the first in the series of five Leatherstocking Tales from James Fenimore Cooper, meaning the one where the character of Natty Bumpo is introduced as a young man. I once received the whole set of the tales as a child but never managed to read them to completion and am now doing just that. This is why I chose to read The Deerslayer first of all in order to get the chronology right.

The young Deerslayer, as his Delaware friends call him, has not yet gone on his first warpath and is in the process of doing so with his friend Chingachkook. Both have not yet faught an enemy and the novel is a good deal about this introduction to what it means to be living with the Native Americans of this time. It is also a good deal about the differences between the "white man" and the "red man". Natty is constantly pressing home the point that these two peoples are very different in the way they live their lives and he stresses how he is white and that he possesses his own "gifts" as does his indian friend.

It's fascinating simply because of the outmoded language used throughout, written in the way that a story needed to be in the 1800's. Considering that Cooper had written his first tale in 1823 there were not so many intervening years between the the 1750's and the early 1800's. In other words, history lingered and was not so distant. In this sense Cooper must have captured a good deal of the way of life of the time that he writes about.

The book has some weaknesses, for example: the actions taking place are often discussed in a long-winded manner when in fact quick thinking and little talking would have been the way these things were done since danger was close at hand and no time for such discussion would have been available when the slightest sound could have meant death. I disagree with the some of the other reviewers in that I do not consider the action scenes to be unrealistic. Stories of the trappers and hunters often tell of running battles where your wits kept you alive. Even then, to say the least, remarkable steadiness of Deerslayer under extreme circumstances is not unheard of although close to unbelievable.

A good book but it doesn't have the flowing movement of "The Last of the Mohicans".

Document of times past, 10 Oct 2007
Cooper's novel about the entrance into manhood of his hero Natty Bumppo (aka 'Leatherstocking' or 'Hawkeye') is no easy reading: the language is fairly obsolete, many of the morals and values Natty believes in and stands for are out-dated, and the action is at times incredible. But then again, there's no denying that this is also a well-written adventure story (one of the first), and has become part of the American heritage.

If you're looking for an entertaining book to read on some beach or other I'd suggest you look elsewhere, but if you have time on your hands and are interested in the origins of adventure literature this is a must read.

Holds Your Interest!, 12 Jun 2006
"The Deerslayer" is the sequentially first in the Leatherstocking series of America's first, great, professional novelist, James Fenimore Cooper. I read it in preparation for a trip to Cooperstown, New York and I am glad that I did. Set in upstate New York in the 1740s, it provides the reader with an idolized introduction to the society of white and red of this colonial frontier.

The criticisms that the dialogue and actions are totally unbelievable, while justified, do not detract from the story. While the simple, faith-filled actions of the "Feeble Minded Hetty" and the dialogue between Deerslayer and Chingachgook seem highly improbable, the do hold the readers' interest. While I am generally not one to pick up readily on character development, this novel is an exception. The contrast between Deerslayer and Chingachgook, the romance between Chingachgook and Wah-ta-Wah
, the romantic web among Judith, Hurry Harry and Deerslayer, and the varying responses to changes in circumstance coming from sisters Judith and Hetty all contribute to the persistent popularity of this work.

Despite all the criticisms directed against Cooper as to form, the one thing that cannot be denied is that this book is very difficult to put down. I found myself always wondering what would come next and what would happen to the characters whom I had come to know. Whether you are looking for an insight into early American literature or just a good story, your search should lead to "The Deerslayer". "


A classic American saga begins, 17 Jan 2006
Chronologically the first of the Leatherstocking Tales about trapper Nathaniel Bumpo, this sets the feel for the rest of the series even though it wasn't the first one written. The Deerslayer of the title is Nathaniel who earns his name of "Hawkeye", for which he is more famous, in this book from the first enemy he ever kills. If the saga is read chronologically, "The Deerslayer" is a good introduction to the character of Natty Bumpo (although I read "The Last Of the Mohicans" first).

It is a story based around the themes of honesty, morality, understanding your own individuality and staying true to your values, told at the steady pace that James Fenimore Cooper uses in his other books. There are several plot parallels that can be drawn with some of his other works, especially "The Last Of The Mohicans", but to describe them would give too much of the plot away.

Although the book has its tense and exciting moments, the dreamy and picturesque style of the narrative can make it drag, and quite frankly I thought the story could have been told using maybe three-quarters of the paper. But that said the narrative does allow a lot of insight into the characters' mind-frames, which allows a greater empathy with them.

A good story but not really a page-turner.

readable as part of the series, 08 May 2008
This is the fourth in the series of Leatherstocking Tales of Natty Bumpo. Unfortunately, it barely involves the main character. Instead, the novel is concerned with the lives of the people of a small town. Natty lives with his friend Chingachgok in a rundown hut in proximity to the town but still far enough so idle visitors do not encroach on his home. It is really only towards the end of the novel that you start to find out more about him and the kind of character he has. Given that Cooper first wrote this novel followed later on by the others it is strange since the other novels concentrate strongly on Natty and his character.

It is readable but only as a part of the whole series, as a stand alone novel it drags a bit.

Convoluted, involving historical tale of early America, 01 Oct 2008
I read all of James Fennimore Cooper's novels in a fever of curiosity about American history about ten years ago, and undoubtedly he is remembered for the right one - the colossal rag-tag tale that is "The Last of the Mohicans". The others are interesting, but never achieve the same narrative drive and sheer impressive drama. There have been numerous attempts to bring it to the big screen, the most memorable in our time being Michael Mann's epic film of the same name in 1992. But the original is not quite like anything else. To read it in the modern age you have to swallow certain reservations, certain prejudices of our own - more on this later.

First, the story. It's the French and Indian wars in 18th century America; the French and English are battling for supremacy over this incredible resource, a new and terrifically important colony. Virgin forests, hundreds of tribes, the land of the east coast of America was the setting for unheard-of upheaval and destruction, and absolutely everybody was caught up in it. It's hard now to calmly assess the horrific arrogance of both the British (yup, that's me) and the French in their casual assumption that whoever gained military supremacy over this land would, literally, own it, quite regardless of the actual, long-time inhabitants. Of course, Cooper's 19th century America was no less arrogantly assuming ownership of the continent, the Indians being to them little more than a costly and dangerous thorn in their side. I generalise, of course: we all have our demons to exorcise. No British subject should forget our own sordid imperial past.

In this setting, the story revolves around the impact on the lives of two sisters, lost in the woods, of a family party that rescue them, again and again: the Mohican Chingachgook, otherwise known as Le Gros Serpent, his son Uncas, and his adopted white son Hawkeye, also known as Natty Bumppo or La Longue Carabine (The Long Rifle). Their attempts to bring the sisters to safety form the basis of the story, and numerous armies, tribes and other characters cross their path in the dramatic and dangerous journey, surely the most important of which is Magua, the vengeful Huron Indian who has a long-cherished hatred of the sisters.

I think Cooper's reputation is tarnished now; but the 1930 screenplay on which Mann's film is based seems to me to be cut from very similar cloth. Cooper, despite shades of bigotry, and for all his faults, gave a voice to all the many tribes of Indians about whom he writes in this novel. He names them; assigns them characteristics and gives them a voice and a decisive part in the action: these are not mere, faceless `Indians' of the type much beloved by Hollywood cinema of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. The motivation of his prime villain, the multi-lingual Magua, is explored and taken in context. **Spoiler** Uncas, the warrior son of Chingachgook and the last of the Mohicans, falls for Cora. Cooper's racism is that of assuming that his readers would agree with him that it was out of the question that Uncas' love for Cora could be realised or even taken very seriously. But despite this note - which, today, is sour for me - you know these people very well by the end of the book.

Some of Cooper's modern-day readers will be unable to forgive his casual contemporary racism. If so, reading modern American Indian authors such as Adrian C Louis may help redress the imbalance. Better still: if you feel part of the still-excluded `Other', write your own stories. It's unfortunate that the modern world favours the written word over the oral tradition, to which American Indian history is so tied. However, if you can take Cooper in context, forgive his foibles, and appreciate what he did achieve, and what he did positively do, you'll find in this novel (of which the NC Wyeth illustrated version is the best) a fascinating, sprawling narrative that will tell you a great deal about American fear and American life as shaped by the events of this incredibly turbulent time.

Surprisingly tough going, 01 Jul 2008
I began reading Cooper's arguably most famous work with high expectations. Sadly, I was disappointed. The characters are dreadfully clichéd, and their wooden dialogue gets infuriating. Hawkeye, moreover, is quite a disagreeably arrogant character throughout most of the novel. Nonetheless, Cooper manages a nice frontier adventure which brings to life the never-never land of eighteenth-century America. I recommend for comparison Michael Mann's 1992 adaptation of the novel, which remedies all of the above flaws and is one of the best adventure films of all time.