James Fenimore Cooper
(1789-1851)
WHO HE WAS:
James Fenimore Cooper was an iconic American writer known for his historical romances of frontier and Native American life. He is best remembered for his five-book Leatherstocking series, including "The Last of the Mohicans," which vividly depicted the early American frontier and the clashes between Native American cultures and European colonizers.
WHAT HE SAID:
"The Americans want nothing but what is theirs by right, while on the other hand, the English never yield anything without being compelled to it."
WHY HE MATTERED:
Cooper's works are seen as a formative influence on American literature. He was one of the first major American novelists to include Native American characters in his stories, offering a complex view of the indigenous peoples and the impact of European settlement in North America.