The Last of the Mohicans..........James Fenimore Cooper
The last of the Mohicans is a novel by the American writer James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) from the "Leatherstocking" series, first published in 1826, which deals with the downfall of North American Indian tribes by the advancing European settlers with thoroughly realistic features. Already popular in Germany in the 19th century, the everyday phrase "the last Mohican" became proverbial for many surviving contemporary witnesses or supporters of an idea.
Contents:
The Last Of The Mohicans is the second book in JF Cooper's leatherstocking tales, following Pioneers, and starring pioneer Natty Bumppo, aka Hawkeye.
In chronological order, the book is the second in the series.
The novel is set at the time of the wars between the French and the English (with Indian allies on both sides) for colonial supremacy in North America (French and Indian wars). The hook of the novel is the historically documented massacre of the British garrison at Fort William Henry in 1757. The subsequent kidnapping of two daughters of the commander, Colonel Munro, is purely fictional.
The depiction of the playing Indian tribes of the Mohicans - Chingachgook and Uncas - and Huron - with Magua - is typified and does not correspond to reality. However, in her time she had a great influence on the public imagination and the later discussion about the transfer of the Indians to reservations.
The story follows Unkas and Hawkeye , who are trying to rescue the two Munro sisters who are trying to rescue the kidnapped daughters of Munro, dark-haired Cora and blonde Alice, from the hands of the Huron who kidnapped them. Joining them is Major Duncan Heyward, Alice's lover, and a preacher named David Gamut. Along the way, they become involved in deadly battles with the Hurons under their leader Magua , who wants Cora as his wife. In the second half of the novel, the Delaware tribe also plays an important role in the further development of the story; Only through the kinship of the two Mohicans with this tribe, which is actually allied with the Huron, can the heroes bring the Delaware to their side.
In the end, Uncas and Cora die while the Huron tribe is defeated and Alice is freed.
Cooper develops the story from existing Native American history writings rather than from contact with actual people. Nevertheless, he shows a deep understanding of the culture of the American Indians.
Unlike the other books in the series, which have little plot connection, The Last of the Mohicans continues in the chronologically final book in the series, "The Prairie," where the aged Natty Bumppo, who emigrated to the prairie before the settlers, meets a young grandson met by Heyward and Alice and now helps him free his bride.
film adaptations:
The book has been filmed in several adaptations since 1921. Since the limited film lengths could not take up the whole subject matter of the book, the pure "action" parts were mostly taken up in the film adaptations. The ZDF four-part series from 1969, with the three other broadcasts based on the Cooper books, is an exception.
The last cinema adaptation was made by Michael Mann in 1992, with Daniel Day-Lewis playing the leading role.
The Last of the Mohicans, 1920, directed by Clarence Brown and Maurice Tourneur
The Last of the Mohicans, 1932, directed by Ford Beebe and B. Reeves Eason
The Last of the Mohicans, 1936, directed by George B. Seitz
The Last of the Mohicans, 1965 Director : Director : Dr. Harald Reinl
The Last of the Mohicans, 1965 directed by Mateo Cano
The Leatherstocking Tales 1969 (TV)
The Last of the Mohicans, 1977 (TV), directed by James L. Conway
The Last of the Mohicans, 1992, directed by Michael Mann
Chingachgook, the Great Serpent, 1967 Directed by Richard Groschopp