James Fenimore Cooper was born on September 15, 1789 in Burlington, New Jersey. He was the son of William and Elizabeth (Fenimore) Cooper, the twelfth of thirteen children (Long, p. 9). Cooper is known as one of the first great American novelists, in many ways because he was the first American writer to gain international followers of his writing. In addition, he was perhaps the first novelist to "demonstrate...that native materials could inspire significant imaginative writing" (p. 13). …showed first 75 words of 2230 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2230 total…in a way that was not common to most white men. Finally, he believed that they were human beings, entitled to live their lives freely just as anyone else. In showing the two sides of opinion on this issue - Hurry and Natty - Cooper sets the book up as a story of good and evil, right and wrong. His ideas, through the thoughts and actions of Hurry and Natty, are clearly presented. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**