From AudioFile
Few are not familiar with The Last of the Mohicans. War, "Indians," fight scenes, courage, love and death are all incorporated into this abridgment. While the abridgment is obvious, none of Cooper's rich language is lost. Theodore Bikel is a very suitable narrator for this dramatic work. His deep, clear voice leads the listener along the shadowy forest trails and through the tribulations of the Indians, their allies and captives. Bikel modulates his voice to suit the characters while maintaining the quality and richness of the story. This is a good addition to a collection of classic literature. M.B.K. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Review
"[Cooper's] sympathy is large, and his humor is as genuine -- and as perfectly unaffected -- as his art."
- Joseph Conrad

FROM OUR EDITORS

Recounting the story of the bloody conflict between the British and the French on the early North American frontier, this classic narrative was written in 1826 by the man who is today considered our first great American novelist.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"James Fenimore Cooper's romantic adventure brings the wilds of the American frontier and the drama of the French-Indian War vividly to life. The most popular of Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales, The Last of the Mohicans portrays the inevitable conflict of opposed cultures and stands as a testament to the ways in which this struggle has been mythologized. Featuring the well-loved noble woodsman Natty Bumppo, or "Hawk-eye," Cooper's novel is a memorable depiction of courage and passion, and a precursor to the Western genre."--BOOK JACKET.

SYNOPSIS

It is 1757. The English and French are engaged in a savage, bloody war for control of the North American continent. Making tenuous, shifting alliances with various Indian tribes, the two European powers struggle to gain the upper hand on unfamiliar, forested battlegrounds.

Caught in the middle is Hawkeye, a white scout who was raised among the Indians. Not fully belonging to either world, Hawkeye has learned to respect the best of both civilizations. But with war swirling around him, Hawkeye must finally struggle to save his own life and those of a small band of colonists.

Fighting by his side are Hawkeye￯﾿ﾽs Mohican friends, Chingachgook and the young Uncas. The three risk their lives to save a British commander￯﾿ﾽs daughters ￯﾿ﾽ the dark-haired, courageous Cora and the fair, fragile Alice. Their chief adversary is the renegade Huron warrior Magua, whose attraction to Cora and hatred for whites make him a vengeful, insidious enemy.

Written in 1826, The Last of the Mohicans was one of the first great novels of American literature, and James Fenimore Cooper￯﾿ﾽs greatest triumph. The book established the American frontier as a setting for thrilling adventures and introduced, in Hawkeye, the prototype of the rugged frontier hero.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Newly abridged by Timothy Meis, James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans comes to life under the paintbrush of N.C. Wyeth, with illustrations originally published in 1919. The artist offers readers a close-up view of the French and Indian War, in paintings such as British colonel Duncan's struggle against a Huron warrior or the Mohican Chingachgook similarly fighting off another Huron warrior in the clearing of a wood. Wyeth's paintings also accompany Meis's adaptation of Daniel DeFoe's Robinson Crusoe, due out in February.

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

It is always with some trepidation that I approach a new version of a classic book￯﾿ﾽespecially an abridged picture book version of The Last of the Mohicans. It was one I loved as a kid. This version is top notch and the art by Wyeth is a joy. All the elements of the story are retained, the war, treachery, bravery of Uncas, Hawkeye, and Chingachgook as well as Clara and Alice. Even though I do know the story very well, the plot does not waver, you are swept up in the tale and even again knowing the end, it still made me sad to read the final page. It is a great read with wonderful illustrations, and it is a version I wouldn't hesitate to give to a young reader. 2002 (orig. 1919), Simon & Schuster,

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

The Last of the Mohicans raises again the question of the efficacy of human effort to control irrational forces at work in individual men, races, and nations. The question has never been more pertinent than now.
 — James Franklin Beard