James Fenimore Cooper
Sail out for adventure on the high seas with famed author James Fenimore Cooper. The Two Admirals is a gripping tale of nautical warfare set during the Jacobite rebellion of 1745. Parallel with the plotline of naval conflict is a puzzle of inheritance, as Sir Wycherly Wychecombe struggles to identify the true heir of his family's wealth and legacy.
6) The Lake Gun
In this parable-like short story from American author James Fenimore Cooper, a sage Native American relates the tragic tale of a young upstart named See-wise who bucks tribal tradition and tries to convince his fellow fisherman to flout seasonal restrictions on fishing. For this transgression, he is doomed to an eternal punishment.
7) The Bravo
Wrapped in what appears at first to be a fairly straightforward maritime action-adventure novel, James Fenimore Cooper's Jack Tier offers fascinating layers of complexity. Set against the backdrop of the U.S.-Mexico War, this in-depth look at life at sea includes hidden identities, racial strife, ageism, and material greed.
10) Precaution
Though he would later rise to prominence as one of the most important American writers of his generation, James Fenimore Cooper's first literary effort was inspired by a wager with his wife, to whom he had offhandedly remarked that he could probably write a more exciting book than the English domestic novels that were the bestsellers of the day. Strongly influenced by Jane Austen, Precaution was initially published under a female pseudonym.
...This exciting tale combines elements of classic adventure with themes of religion, reverence, and tolerance. The 'oak openings' of the title are the wooded prairies of Michigan, where the peaceful camaraderie between white frontiersmen and Native Americans is tested when the War of 1812 breaks out. Will these friendships survive the conflict? Is co-existence possible? Read Oak Openings to find out how the uneasy truce fares.
From the author of The Last of the Mohicans comes this classic nautical adventure tale that follows a sea voyage gone horribly awry. When a group of well-born British aristocrats set sail for the United States, they couldn't possibly imagine the mishaps that lie ahead of them when they find themselves coming ashore in Africa.
14) Home as Found
The sequel to his earlier novel, Homeward Bound, James Fenimore Cooper's Home as Found was inspired by events in the author's own life. After living abroad for a number of years, Cooper and his family returned to the U.S., only to be appalled by what he regarded as a marked devolution in the national character. An in-depth exploration of this decline is the central focus of Home as Found.
Written under the pseudonym "Jane Morgan," the two tales collected in this volume reflect the profound influence that British author Jane Austen had on Cooper's early development as a writer. Geared toward younger audiences, these romances strive to impart important moral lessons.
Even though he is regarded as one of the key figures who contributed to the creation of a distinctly American literary sensibility, author James Fenimore Cooper spent a significant portion of his life living abroad in Europe. Structured as a series of letters written to various figures who played a role in Cooper's life overseas, this collection provides an interesting look at differences in European and American culture in the nineteenth century.
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