About
James Fenimore Cooper, born September 15, 1789, in Burlington, New Jersey, and died September 14, 1851, in Cooperstown, New York, is a major American novelist. After studies at Yale (from which he was expelled) and service in the Navy, he took up writing at age 30. His second novel, The Spy (1821), brought him fame. He is best known for the Leatherstocking Tales, a series of five novels including The Last of the Mohicans (1826), featuring the frontiersman Natty Bumppo. He also wrote sea novels and historical works. His work influenced many European writers and helped define American literature.
* 1789-09-15 — † 1851-09-14
Major works
- The Spy (1821)novel
- The Pioneers (1823)novel
- The Last of the Mohicans (1826)novel
- The Pathfinder (1840)novel
- The Deerslayer (1841)novel
Key milestones
- 1826Publication of The Last of the Mohicans, his most popular novel.
- 1826-1833Stay in Europe (France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany).
- 1839Publication of History of the Navy of the United States of America.
Themes
Frontier and wildernessHonor and loyaltyConflict between nature and civilizMaritime adventureAmerican identity
Sources: britannica.com · neh.gov · id.loc.gov
