The Last of the Mohicans

This one will probably surprise a few people, but it is a historical romance. For those who haven’t read the book, please know that the movie starring Daniel Daydream- Lewis does not accurately parallel the book. I chose this novel because it is an American story with American characters, published in 1826. Cora is another very strong character, certainly ahead of her time and admired by Hawkeye, who was also an unusual character for the period. I enjoyed the historical details intertwined with fiction. Definitely worth your time to read.

This classic adventure novel, first published in 1826, is still worth reading for the vividness of the wilderness landscape it brings to life; for its well-researched backdrop of the North American theater of the Seven Years War (the so-called French and Indian War); and for its sympathetic, if highly romanticized, portrayal of its Native American and Anglo-American characters. The novel is also important as a cultural artifact. Its influence has been deep and enduring, not only as a piece of literature but as a formative element in the USA’s national mythology and self-image.

The Daniel Day-Lewis movie is wonderful. But it is different enough from the book, that to rely on it alone is insufficient. You must read it. The tale has everything in the movie and more. This was the first adventure book I read as a kid. Natty Bumppo taught me how a man could be both strong and humble. His Mohican family taught me how to never give up – even when faced with unstoppable odds. And while it is not 100% accurate in every detail, it is a tale that takes all aspects of colonial America and jams it… show more.