#mohicans

The moment uncas places his hand on his fathers shoulder

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The Last of the Mohicans, James Fenimore Cooper

First published in 1826, The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 is James Fenimore Cooper’s most enduring novel and a foundational work of early American historical fiction.

Set during the French and Indian War, the story follows the perilous journey of Major Duncan Heyward, the Munro sisters, and their frontier allies through the contested wilderness of colonial New York. Along the way, Cooper introduces some of American literature’s most iconic characters, including Hawkeye, Chingachgook, and Uncas—the last survivor of the Mohican people. The novel blends adventure, romance, military conflict, and moral reflection, set against a richly imagined landscape shaped by war, displacement, and cultural collision.

This edition preserves the original language and structure of the novel, including Cooper’s introductory essay and chapter divisions, making it suitable for readers interested in classic literature, early American history, or nineteenth-century prose. While its depictions reflect the attitudes and limitations of its time, the novel remains historically significant and widely studied for its influence on American storytelling and mythmaking.