James Fenimore Cooper: The Leatherstocking Tales I; The Pioneers, The Last of the Mohicans, The Prairie (Library of America) Hardcover – July 1, 1985

My only complaint would be that the three books were not published in the order they were written. Odd

James Cooper's novels are calling out to the early settlers and Americans to please preserve the Indian heritage and the natural resources he saw being ruined and wasted by a consuming culture of rapacious devourment. Daniel Boone is portrayed as an heroic outsider and a naturalist watching his world and the natural world end before his eyes. Brilliant stories written in a classic style. Take the time...its worth it.

James Fenimore Cooper can truly spin a yarn. Much of what he writes about is truly virgin material. He writes as he saw our new country and the people who inhabited a land that was raw and unsettled. There were very few people, both of European and Native Americans to be seen or heard. And when these two ran upon each other in the northeast woods, it was a powder keg explosion of emotion and often sudden death. Men women, children, red or whites were not spared. They died for good reason and often for no reason. The French paid bounties for scalps and it didn't matter whether they came from white or reds.The Last Of The Mohicans is my favorite Volume 1 tale. I suspect we all read this in high school. But now I read it with a different perspective and appreciation of times long gone. Deerslayer is first developed as a character in this novel. The familiar terms of Uncas, Mingos, The Serpent, Hawkeye and a cast of simple characters come alive once again. And the manner in which they lived and died is of great interest.I won't attempt to wax eloquent any further. If you fail to read or revisit these two volumes of what then was called the American frontier, which back in the day was northwest New York and Canada, you will have missed a wonderful opportunity to renew your heritage and develop an appreciation for the Redskin culture.

A way to connect with the past.

This volume contains the first three novels in Cooper's Leatherstocking series. The stories themselves are gripping, the characters are fascinating, there is a profound poetic beauty in Cooper's prose, and these novels shed light on the history of America. Highly recommended!

Shame on me - I should have read the negative reviews before buying. The print is impossible to read without a magnifying glass. Another trip to Goodwill...

Excellent, high-quality binding, paper and typeface make this volume a joy to handle and read. The classic Leatherstocking Tales have never looked better. The time line and notes help place the readings in historical perspective. In re-reading the widely-known "Last of the Mohicans" as an adult, I am surprised at the level of violence and racism expressed. Cooper's introduction warns women and clergy from reading it - an early 19'th century view, but also modern in that one must have a sense of the historical period of the story, and of the author's times, to appreciate what has changed, and what unfortunately remains unchanged in our society and in human nature.

This was for my husband as his family is right in the area and period. Even with our background in historical research, hadn't read Cooper (well, my husband read the best known books after the TV series in the far far past but was somewhat less discerning at that point) so hadn't read as an adult. I picked it up and am blown away. We read 'classics' regularly and, honestly, sometimes question that classification. It always takes an adjustment to the pace and language but once into the rhythm found it great and perceptive when you consider what's being said beyond the story. Beyond just being - edified - the edition is well made and well sized and you even get the classic ribbon page marker :) Good collection of Part ! novels - going to get the remainder

The copy arrived in excellent condition. Great value.

Who has not read The Last of the Mohicans as a kid ? And I was fortunate to read it in its original form.The novel has not diminished in its appeal even today, at age 49. I have by now become jaded with all sorts of Western movies and serials, and Western novels. From Louis Lamour to J T Edson... From characters like Shalako to Bowdrie to Sudden... Yet The Last of the Mohicans stands out in terms of superior and more realistic narrative, and the characters are heroes by their deeds and actions and dialogues, rather than by descriptions by the author. And the description really takes you to Red Indian territory.And so it was a snap to order this 'collection' of Leatherstocking Tales featuring the same hero !And no disappointment at all. Both the other two 'stories' lived upto The Mohicans yarn.

I like this style of book. Old library book style. Arrived boxed and in very good condition. It was packed well for transportation.Looking forward to reading it.

I read the reviews before purchasing this book as a birthday present, but there is no mention of the ridiculously tiny print that most people would struggle to read.

Not made clear that this would be incompatible with present kindle device, would have to upgrade