The Last of the Mohicans

Cooper’s most enduringly popular novel combines heroism and romance with powerful criticism of the destruction of nature and tradition. Set against the French and Indian siege of Fort William Henry in 1757,The Last of the Mohicans recounts the story of two sistersCora and Alice Munrodaughters of the English commanderwho are struggling to be reunited with their father. They are aided in their perilous journey by Hawk-eyea frontier scout and his companions Chingachgook and Uncasthe only two survivors of the Mohican tribe. But their lives are endangered by the Manguathe savage Indian traitor who captures the sisterswanting Cora to be his squaw. In setting Indian against Indian and the brutal society of the white man against the civilization of the MohicanCoopermore than any author before or sinceshaped the American sense of itself as a nation. For more than seventy yearsPenguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1700 titlesPenguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authorsas well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.