James Fenimore Cooper: life and

literary career
James Fenimore Cooper was an established early nineteenth century American
writer. He prolifically penned historical fiction and was a major proponent of
Romanticism. He is famous for writing a romantic masterpiece, The Last of the
Mohicans.

Born on September 15, 1789, Cooper grew up in Burlington, New Jersey. He

was the eleventh child of William Cooper and Elizabeth Cooper. He was named
after his grandfather who emigrated from England to America. Cooper’s family
briefly lived in New Jersey and moved to New York. In 1802, he got enrolled at
Yale university. Though, he could not attaina degree because he was expelled in
his senior year for playing a prank that did a considerable damage to Yale’s
hostel. Disheartened at his expulsion from college, he served with the crew of a
merchant vessel as a sailor. By the time he turned 21, he had been promoted to
the post of midshipman in the United States Navy. In 1811, he got married to
Susan Augusta de Lancey and some of their children also made their name in
American literature.
It was a wager placed by his wife that had him writing his first novel, Precaution.
He anonymously published the novel in 1820. It is inspired by Jane Austen’s
approach to fiction concerning morals and manners. Following the publication of
his first novel, he wrote several others. In the Leatherstocking series he produced
the first novel, titled The Pioneers, in 1823. It was a historical novel set at the
frontier of New York State. The novel featured a resourceful American woodsman,
Natty Bumppo. Cooper focused on the environmental issues and conservation in
the evolving New York, transforming from wilderness to civilized communities.
1826 was marked as the successful year for Cooper as he published his key work,
The Last of the Mohicans. It is considered to be one of the most widely read book
in America during nineteenth century. It was the second installment in the
Leatherstocking Tales featuring Natty Bumppo’s character. The story was set
during the French and Indian War which was fought between France and Britain to
rule North America. It had been criticized for its formal prose style and length.
However, the years to come brought it huge fame and appreciation and till now it is
widely read and has been adapted for big and small screen.
By 1832 Cooper was deemed a political writer. During his stay in
France he wrote letters to Le National defending America against
charges levied by the Revue Britannique. His political inclination
became more apparent in his novel, The Bravo (1831) in which he
criticized European anti-republicanism. Cooper portrayed Venice
as the hub of oligarchy hidden behind the shadow of
republicanism. Despite his brash take on republicanism, the novel
failed to evoke warm response from American readers. On his
return to America in 1833 he wrote A Letter to My Countrymen in
which he criticized his compatriots for being involved in certain
controversies. The works followed charts his travel experience in
European countries. Cooper sketched a highly idealistic self-
portrait in his Homebound which was received positively.
James Fenimore Cooper’s notable works include Littlepage
Manuscripts, The Crater, or Vulcan’s Peak, A Life Before the
Mast and Jack Tier. In his last days he suffered from a medical
condition called edema and passed away at the age of 62 in 1851.
Books by James Fenimore
Cooper