The Pioneeers

by James Fenimore Cooper
List(s):"Well-Known Books"
Category: "Fiction - Historical"
Pages:456
Year of Publication:1823
Date Added:03/19/2015
Date Read:08/08/2020
Notes:Set in Western New York in the late 1700's. Judge Temple owns a large parcel of land and is establishing a town. His daughter Elizabeth lives with him. They meet a young man named Oliver, and the judge offers him a job. Most of the book revolves around the typical activities of a pioneer community. Natty Bumppo and his Indian friend Chingachgook live in a cabin in the woods and cling to their old ways. Oliver is friends with the two and spends much time with them. Things come to a head when Natty kills a deer out of season and, the same day, saves Elizabeth from a panther. There's much confusion, a forest fire, a bit of a battle, but in the end it develops that Oliver is the son of the Judge's old partner (whom he thought was dead). As soon as the Judge realizes this, he splits his property with Oliver, but it matters little as Oliver soon marries Elizabeth. Chingachgook dies in the fire. Natty moves on to the next frontier.
My Rating: 6

Reviews for The Pioneeers

Review - Pioneeers, The

Rather pointless for much of the way, and then a fury of over-wrought incidents and newly-introduced characters. Not terrible, but for a book often called the first American best-seller, it has its flaws.

Reviewed by Roger on 2020-08-08 21:12:47

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