James Fenimore Cooper
The Last of the Mohicans
1826
A seductive, old-fashioned, very narrative, tale of 18th-century racial and national conflicts which would come to shape today’s North America. Diffusing a barely hidden critique of a weak and hypocritical Christian society in favour of honour-bound and earnest Native American Tribes, and a union of the two, Cooper is always careful to compensate his almost childish praise of “Indian nature” by a “superior” trait conceded to his white audience. But in this dense relation, the author's prejudices (his relying on nature rather than culture) gradually become unimportant to allow you to enjoy the book and appreciate the characters in all their moderated worth, till you become part of their eternal landscape of woods and plains, mountains and rivers. What starts as a slowly paced critique of white conquest and its varied Native responses is quickly shadowed by the very thing they’re all fighting for, as North America itself becomes the most powerful character of the book. This is a sensual, tragic reading which, treacherously, and quite sadly, makes you forget to care for who wins, who loses; in this narration, all that matters is the journey: quiet, yet adventurous. Almost providential. Of the success of the critique, let the reader be the judge. The book, however, belongs to high literature.
The Last of the Mohicans
1826
A seductive, old-fashioned, very narrative, tale of 18th-century racial and national conflicts which would come to shape today’s North America. Diffusing a barely hidden critique of a weak and hypocritical Christian society in favour of honour-bound and earnest Native American Tribes, and a union of the two, Cooper is always careful to compensate his almost childish praise of “Indian nature” by a “superior” trait conceded to his white audience. But in this dense relation, the author's prejudices (his relying on nature rather than culture) gradually become unimportant to allow you to enjoy the book and appreciate the characters in all their moderated worth, till you become part of their eternal landscape of woods and plains, mountains and rivers. What starts as a slowly paced critique of white conquest and its varied Native responses is quickly shadowed by the very thing they’re all fighting for, as North America itself becomes the most powerful character of the book. This is a sensual, tragic reading which, treacherously, and quite sadly, makes you forget to care for who wins, who loses; in this narration, all that matters is the journey: quiet, yet adventurous. Almost providential. Of the success of the critique, let the reader be the judge. The book, however, belongs to high literature.
P.S. We know that the destiny of the characters and the outcome of the combats weren’t providential; every little human action
made them what they became. It would have been interesting to see a narrative which
purported to impact on, rather than indulge in, the fate of North America.
Tags: good humour, the shaping of America, the last of the Mohicans, fleeing together through the woods, strong hints of interracial love which will make you want to rewrite the ending, besieged fortress, antifeminist representation of women as obstacles to the heroes, Providence, racial game of warriors and masters and hints of critique on whiteness on the part of the Natives, historical notes on the wars, culture, and legends of North America, long quest through the rivers and the woods, tribal organisation vs. Euro-Christian organisation, the nature of God, faith, and true religion, North America as a character
Tags: good humour, the shaping of America, the last of the Mohicans, fleeing together through the woods, strong hints of interracial love which will make you want to rewrite the ending, besieged fortress, antifeminist representation of women as obstacles to the heroes, Providence, racial game of warriors and masters and hints of critique on whiteness on the part of the Natives, historical notes on the wars, culture, and legends of North America, long quest through the rivers and the woods, tribal organisation vs. Euro-Christian organisation, the nature of God, faith, and true religion, North America as a character
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