James Fenimore Cooper
Part of a trilogy of works by the author of The Last of the Mohicans, The Headsman is regarded by many critics to be one of James Fenimore Cooper's most accomplished novels. With the action of the novel divided between the Swiss Alps and a series of sea voyages, The Headsman is a must-read for fans of Cooper's unique brand of adventure fiction.
Written under the pseudonym "Jane Morgan," the two tales collected in this volume reflect the profound influence that British author Jane Austen had on Cooper's early development as a writer. Geared toward younger audiences, these romances strive to impart important moral lessons.
Renowned American author James Fenimore Cooper had a lifelong fascination with the sea—and a deep appreciation for the brave men who spent their lives traversing it. In the novel Miles Wallingford, the sequel to Cooper's Afloat and Ashore, Cooper focuses on the life story of one remarkable sailor, the Wallingford of the title, who recounts his exploits on the sea as a young man.
Even though he is regarded as one of the key figures who contributed to the creation of a distinctly American literary sensibility, author James Fenimore Cooper spent a significant portion of his life living abroad in Europe. Structured as a series of letters written to various figures who played a role in Cooper's life overseas, this collection provides an interesting look at differences in European and American culture in the nineteenth century.
...6) The Lake Gun
In this parable-like short story from American author James Fenimore Cooper, a sage Native American relates the tragic tale of a young upstart named See-wise who bucks tribal tradition and tries to convince his fellow fisherman to flout seasonal restrictions on fishing. For this transgression, he is doomed to an eternal punishment.
In what may be a first among maritime action-adventure novels, the vessels at the center of this fast-paced tale from James Fenimore Cooper spend virtually the entirety of the story in harbor off the coast of New York. When a band of rowdy pirates abduct an heiress, her beau gives chase in a thrilling standoff. But when national tensions intervene, the story takes an unexpected turn.
8) The Monikins
When several of his novels were met with mixed critical and popular reactions, American author James Fenimore Cooper took a break from the romantic epics that had long been his stock-in-trade and tried his hand at Swiftian satire. The fantastical creatures who populate thinly veiled versions of England and America in the novel have one thing in common with humans: an abiding preoccupation with money.
Perhaps more than any other nineteenth-century American author, James Fenimore Cooper sought to represent the culture and struggles of Native Americans. Although his depictions of indigenous tribes still bear traces of the endemic racism that was part of the larger American culture at the time, they did represent a literary breakthrough in the era. In the novel The Wept of Wish-Ton-Wish, Cooper shifts the focus to the earliest encounters
...10) Precaution
Though he would later rise to prominence as one of the most important American writers of his generation, James Fenimore Cooper's first literary effort was inspired by a wager with his wife, to whom he had offhandedly remarked that he could probably write a more exciting book than the English domestic novels that were the bestsellers of the day. Strongly influenced by Jane Austen, Precaution was initially published under a female pseudonym.
...This whaling adventure from beloved American author James Fenimore Cooper works on two levels. On the surface, it's an exciting maritime action-adventure tale recounting the twin voyages of two different ships seeking bounty and treasure in the waters around Antarctica. On a deeper level, it's a thought-provoking allegory about how adverse circumstances can impact people differently based on their character and spirit.
Pining for a tale of frontier life on the vast prairie? Settle in with this novel from James Fenimore Cooper, the fifth and final installment in his Leatherstocking Tales series, which follows the exploits of one Natty Bumppo, a trapper living out his twilight years in the wide open spaces of the Midwest.
Get set for an exhilarating nautical adventure that pits one of the world's most notorious pirates against a ragtag crew of black and white sailors who must overcome their differences and band together for the fight. Although The Red Rover shares the fast pace and detailed plotting of Cooper's more famous books, such as The Last of the Mohicans, it's a more humorous take on the historical novel than many of his other works.
From the author of The Last of the Mohicans comes this classic nautical adventure tale that follows a sea voyage gone horribly awry. When a group of well-born British aristocrats set sail for the United States, they couldn't possibly imagine the mishaps that lie ahead of them when they find themselves coming ashore in Africa.
This exciting tale combines elements of classic adventure with themes of religion, reverence, and tolerance. The 'oak openings' of the title are the wooded prairies of Michigan, where the peaceful camaraderie between white frontiersmen and Native Americans is tested when the War of 1812 breaks out. Will these friendships survive the conflict? Is co-existence possible? Read Oak Openings to find out how the uneasy truce fares.
Wrapped in what appears at first to be a fairly straightforward maritime action-adventure novel, James Fenimore Cooper's Jack Tier offers fascinating layers of complexity. Set against the backdrop of the U.S.-Mexico War, this in-depth look at life at sea includes hidden identities, racial strife, ageism, and material greed.
17) The Two Admirals
Sail out for adventure on the high seas with famed author James Fenimore Cooper. The Two Admirals is a gripping tale of nautical warfare set during the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. Parallel with the plotline of naval conflict is a puzzle of inheritance, as Sir Wycherly Wychecombe struggles to identify the true heir of his family's wealth and legacy.
18) The Bravo
Eighteenth-century Venice is the setting for The Bravo, a sprawling sea novel that is equal parts travelogue, cultural analysis, political treatise, and adventure tale. While packed with plenty of the gripping action Cooper's novels are known for, The Bravo also offers readers an insightful glimpse into the social class differences and tensions that served to corrupt European leaders in the era.
This sensational tale from action-adventure master James Fenimore Cooper takes the form of the life story of a rugged old sailor, Miles Wallingford. As a youth, Miles, his brother, and their slave Neb ran away from the family home to become seamen, dashing the family's hopes that Miles will become a respectable lawyer. Veering wildly from calamities to courageous feats and back again, Afloat and Ashore is one sea tale you won't soon forget.
...New York-based author James Fenimore Cooper was an important cultural figure who contributed significantly to the development of a uniquely American voice in literature, one imbued with a keen appreciation for the mysteries of the natural world. The Pioneers is part of Cooper's sweeping Leatherstocking Tales series that delves into history of the young United States and its frontier spirit, much of which is seen from the perspective
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