James Fenimore Cooper: The Later Years

James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851) was an American author credited with inventing and popularizing multiple genres of fiction, including the Western, the spy novel, the high seas adventure tale, and the Revolutionary War romance. He is regarded as America's first crusading novelist, demonstrating that literature engages with the world rather than existing in isolation. This second volume of Wayne Franklin's biography focuses on the latter half of Cooper's life. It covers a period marked by personal and political controversy, extensive international travel, and prolific writing. The biography examines Cooper's progressive views on race and slavery, his skepticism about American expansionism, and his concerns about the American Republic's future. Franklin also details how Cooper's career management practices influenced later novelists' ability to earn a living through writing.