Summary
The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 by James Fenimore Cooper is a sweeping tale of war, wilderness, and cultural conflict set during the French and Indian War in colonial North America.
The story follows Natty Bumppo, also known as Hawkeye, a rugged frontiersman and skilled marksman who was raised among Native Americans.
Alongside his close companions—Chingachgook and his son Uncas, the last members of the Mohican tribe—Hawkeye becomes entangled in a perilous mission to escort two English sisters, Cora and Alice Munro, to their father, Colonel Munro, stationed at Fort William Henry.
Their journey through the dense forests of New York is fraught with danger, betrayal, and warfare, particularly from the vengeful Huron warrior Magua, who seeks personal revenge against the Munro family. As battles rage and cultures clash, the novel explores themes of loyalty, honor, racial identity, and the tragic fading of Native American tribes.
A cornerstone of early American literature, The Last of the Mohicans blends action, romance, and historical drama.
With its vivid landscapes and heroic characters, it reflects the tension and myth-making of the American frontier and remains one of Cooper’s most enduring and influential works.