The Pathfinder

Decades ago I saw James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans in a public television production. It was exciting. But I had never read his books. The Pathfinder was another in the series, and proved just as good -- even better -- for reading. Detailed descriptions of the North American forests of the 18th century bring wild natural America, now almost all gone, to life. Meanwhile, though you can't learn American history from The Pathfinder, if you know some already, Cooper's commentary on the honor and the cynicism of Britain and France fighting over (and via) the Native Americans' lands is enlightening. Of course the dramatic chases and battle scenes are heart-pumping, and the romance is just realistic enough to maintain interest. Intrigue and a mystery twist at the end make for a first-rate historical novel. So switch off the TV -- even its best action, nature and history programs -- just for a few hours, and read The Pathfinder.

James Fennimore Cooper's five books, known as "The Leatherstocking Tales" (the Pathfinder is third in the series)are some of the most exciting books I've ever read! I highly recommend!!

THE PATHFINDER is a tale of French and British fighting around the Great Lakes of North America. An older sea captain tediously tries to convince Jasper Western, a younger suitor of his niece, a master of a small British warship on Lake Ontario, that few skills are needed to sail lakes. But storms, fogs, islands and hostile pro-French Indians convince the old sea dog otherwise. Meanwhile Mabel and Jasper fall in love. But Mabel's sergeant-major British soldier father wants her to marry his 30-something friend Natty Bumppo, the Pathfinder. And Pathfinder, the perpetual celibate loner, uncharacteristically falls in love! Like Sir John Falstaff in THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR or the founder of Rome in the Aeneid, a hero falls in love at the risk of his God-ordained mission in life. In the end Natty realizes that his assignment, his gift, is to roam the wildernesses, to hunt, to trap, to be an army scout, but not to become a husband and father. In a larger sense, Natty also realizes that he is more at home with and accepted for what he is by Indians than by whites. Natty senses that the Indians and their way of life which is closest to his ideal are doomed. But while breath remains, the Pathfinder will stay true to himself. His one great permanent friend is and remains Chingachgook, the Great Serpent of the Mohicans and they will roam and adventure together. As Natty confides to Jasper, explaining the Serpent's need to scalp a dead Mingo foe: "I have come to the opinion, boy, that, as Providence rules all things, no gift is bestowed without some wise and reasonable end. If Injins are of no use, Injins would not have been created. ... even the Mingo tribes were produced for some rational and proper purpose, though I confess it surpasses my means to say what it is" (Ch. VI). Read this great novel for adventure, for lessons in Indian-European misunderstandings and to witness the remorseless sweep of European civilization -- French, Spanish, British -- across the broad North American continent. -OOO-

I originally wanted to read the Last of the Mohicans because of the very enjoyable movie but I picked up this book and chose to read it first. I do not regret my decision. I was unaware when I began reading this book in the Leatherstocking series that it was not the first book in the series. A reader who has not read other books in the series can feel confident that they won't feel lost if they start reading this book. The book portrays very detailed images of the forests, lakes, rivers, and people of the French and Indian War time period during the 18th century. The character development and plot are very well done. The book also gives a glimpse of the harsh realities of war during this time period. The writing style of the book is also fascinating and reminds me, at times, of epic poetry. I highly recommend it.

Chronologically speaking, this is the sequal to Last of the Mohicans, though not written in that order. Pathfinder returns us to the Seven Years War in colonial times. A great book, Pathfinder is probably Cooper's most romantic book in its depictions of upstate New York, the most modern of his writing capabilities, and the most active in its depiction of war. Enjoy.