Although often overlooked today, James Fenimore Cooper’s novels represent the very beginnings of American literature. Singlehandedly, the gentleman farmer from upstate New York created the American historical, spy, sea, frontier, science fiction, and courtroom novels. His books became both national and international bestsellers, were quickly translated into other languages, and impacted the development of the American publishing industry.
This literary companion is a useful resource covering the major themes, characters, settings and more found in Cooper’s works. It includes an overview of his fiction; a brief biography; a chronological list of his major publications; and topics for discussion, research, and study.

Signe O. Wegener retired from teaching in the Department of English at the University of Georgia. She lives in Atlanta.
Laurence W. Mazzeno, president emeritus of Alvernia University, Reading, Pennsylvania, is the author or editor of 20+ books and more than 300 articles and reviews on literature and history. He lives in Arvada, Colorado.
Sue Norton, a lecturer of English at the Technological University Dublin since 1999, previously taught in University College Dublin, University College Cork and New Jersey City University.

Signe O. Wegener. Series Editor Laurence W. Mazzeno; Associate Editor Sue Norton
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 247
Bibliographic Info: 21 photos, appendix, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2023
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8257-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4984-9
Imprint: McFarland
Series: McFarland Companions to 19th Century Literature

Acknowledgments  vi
Preface  1
Introduction: Reading and Appreciating Cooper  3
James Fenimore Cooper: A Brief Biography  15
Chronological List of Cooper’s Major Publications  25
James Fenimore Cooper: A Literary Companion  27
Appendix: Topics for Discussion, Research, and Study  225
Bibliography  229
Index  237