Wednesday, February 28, 2007

TT#6 Thirteen things about the great American Novelist - James Fenimore Cooper

  1. James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) was a seaman until he retired to become a country gentleman and write.
  2. Didn't start writing until his early 30's in answer to a challenge from his wife when he claimed he could write a better novel than the one he was reading.
  3. The following year (1820) he wrote Precaution which critics said was no better than other English fiction.
  4. Challenged once again he wrote two fully American books - The Spy (1821)(a tale of the American revolution) and The Pilot (1823)
  5. The Pioneers (1823) a tale of the frontier, became an instant best seller.
  6. The Pioneers sold over 3,500 copies on the morning of its first day in print
  7. He wrote the first American adventure story
  8. The first American novel of manners
  9. The first American novel of the sea
  10. The first successful American novelist
  11. Fenimore's fame rested on The Leatherstocking Tales featuring Natty Bumpoo, which consisted of a series of five novels about Natty Bumpoo.
  12. He went on to write 28 novels over the next 30 years.
  13. Other novels include, The Last of the Mohicans (1826), The Red Rover (1927), The Water Witch (1830), The Deerslayer (1841)His last novel - The Ways of the Hour was written in 1850. He died in 1851

6 comments:

Rene said...

That's interesting. Amazing how the reasons for writing is pretty much a timeless issue.

Unknown said...

I've heard of his books but have never read any of them. Maybe I'll have to go looking...

Anonymous said...

Wow, 28 novels in thirty years. That's awesome, and thanks for the list -- I love Last of the Mohicans. :)

Happy TTing, and thanks for stopping by my blog!

Amy Ruttan said...

I've never read one of his books, I have heard of the Pioneers and Last of the Mohicans.

Actually, I think Laura Ingalls Wilder's parents had a copy of the Pioneers and read it often, that and a book called Millbank.

I also think James fenimore's wife's challenge was similar to Leigh Greenwood's challenge from his wife "don't mock it till you read it." Now he's a bestselling romance writer. Too funny.

Sunflower said...

Nice list. Thanks for sharing.

I will Exercise for Comments!
Sunflower

Anonymous said...

I also have heard of his books but have not read any. Think its about time I started. Thanks!