Saturday, April 11, 2009

"Last of the Mohicans"

The Last of the Mohicans

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The Last of the Mohicans
Author James Fenimore Cooper
Country the United states of America
Language English
Series Leatherstocking
Genre(s) Historical novel
Publisher H.C. Carey & I. Lea
Publication date February 1826
Media type print (hardback & paperback)
Pages 2 vol.
ISBN N/A
Preceded by The Pioneers (1823)
Followed by The Prairie (1827)

The Last of the Mohicans is a historical novel by James Fenimore Cooper, first published in January 1826.

It was one of the most popular English-language novels of its time. Its narrative flaws were criticized from the start, and its length and elaborately formal prose style have reduced its appeal to later readers. Regardless, The Last of the Mohicans is widely read in American literature courses. This second book of the Leatherstocking Tales pentalogy is the best known. The Pathfinder, written 14 years later in 1840, is its sequel.[1]

Cooper named a principal character Uncas after a real person. Uncas was a Mohegan, not a Mohican, and Cooper's usage has helped to confuse the names of two tribes to the present day. When John Uncas, his last surviving male descendant died in 1842, the Newark Daily Advertiser wrote "Last of the Mohegans Gone" lamenting the extinction of the tribe.[2] The writer was not aware that Mohegans still existed then, as they do to the present day.

The story takes place in 1757 during the Seven Years' War (known in America as the French and Indian War), when France and the United Kingdom battled for control of the North American colonies. During this war, the French often allied themselves with Native American tribes in order to gain an advantage over the British, with unpredictable and often tragic results.

[edit] Plot introduction

The story is set in the British province of New York during the French and Indian War, and concerns--in part--a Huron massacre (with passive French acquiescence) of from 500 to 1,500 Anglo-American troops, who had honorably surrendered at Fort William Henry, plus some women and servants; the kidnapping of two sisters, daughters of the British commander; and their rescue by the last two Mohicans, and others. Parts of the story may have been derived from the capture and death of Jane McCrea in July 1777 near Fort Edward, New York, by members of an Algonquian tribe.

The title of the book comes from a quote by Tamanend: "I have lived to see the last warrior of the wise race of the Mohicans".[3]

[edit] Characters

  • Magua (ma-gwah)– the villain of the piece; a Huron chief driven from his tribe for drunkenness and later whipped by the British Army (also for drunkenness), for which he blames Colonel Munro. Also known as "Sly Fox."
  • Chingachgook – last chief of the Mohican tribe; escort to the traveling Munro sisters, father to Uncas. Also has the Indian name of "Great Snake".
  • Uncas – the son of Chingachgook and the titular "Last of the Mohicans" (meaning, the last pure-blooded Mohican born).[4]
  • "Natty" Nathaniel Bumppo, known as "Hawkeye" – the "American hero" and escort to the Munro sisters, long-time friend of Chingachgook. Also known to the Indians and the French as "Le Longue Carabine" on account of his long rifle and shooting skills.
  • Cora Munro – dark-haired daughter of Colonel Munro; her mother (who died young) was half-white half-black, which means that Cora is a quadroon. The Huron chief Magua takes a liking for her and wants to make her his wife.
  • Alice Munro – Cora's younger, blond half-sister.
  • Colonel Munro – the sisters' father, a British army colonel in command of Fort William Henry.
  • Duncan Heyward – a British army major from Virginia who falls in love with Alice Munro.[5]
  • David Gamut – a psalmodist (teacher of psalm singing) also known as "the singing master" due to the fact that he sang for every event.
  • General Daniel Webb – Colonel Munro's commanding officer, originally stationed at Albany, who later takes command at Fort Edward (from where he cannot or will not come to Colonel Munro's aid when Fort William Henry is besieged by the French).
  • General Marquis de Montcalm – the French commander-in-chief, referred to by the Hurons and other Indian allies of the French as "The great white father of the Canadas".
  • Tamenund – An ancient, wise, and revered Delaware Indian sage who has outlived three generations of warriors. He is the "Sachem" of the Delaware.

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