The Pioneers (novel)

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The Pioneers, or the Sources of the Susquehanna; a Descriptive Tale
The Pioneers 1823.jpg
First edition title page
Author James Fenimore Cooper
LanguageEnglish
Series Leatherstocking
Genre Historical novel
PublisherCharles Wiley
Publication date
1823
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages2 vol.
Preceded by The Pathfinder, or The Inland Sea  
Followed by The Prairie  

The Pioneers, or The Sources of the Susquehanna; a Descriptive Tale is an 1823 historical novel by American writer James Fenimore Cooper. It was the first of five novels published which became known as the Leatherstocking Tales . The Pioneers is the fourth novel in terms of the chronology of the novels' plots.

Contents

Plot summary

The story takes place on the rapidly advancing frontier of New York State and features an elderly Leatherstocking (Natty Bumppo), Judge Marmaduke Temple of Templeton (whose life parallels that of the author's father Judge William Cooper), and Elizabeth Temple (based on the author's sister, Hannah Cooper), daughter of the fictional Templeton. The story begins with an argument between the judge and Leatherstocking over who killed a buck.

Through their discussion, Cooper reviews many of the changes to New York's Lake Otsego and its area: questions of environmental stewardship, conservation, and use prevail. Leatherstocking and his closest friend, the Mohican Indian Chingachgook, begin to compete with the Temples for the loyalties of a mysterious young visitor, a "young hunter" known as Oliver Edwards. The latter eventually marries Elizabeth Temple. Chingachgook dies, representing European-American fears for the race of "dying Indians", who appear to be displaced by settlers. Natty vanishes into the sunset.

Analysis

The Pioneers was the first novel of James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales series, featuring the character Natty Bumppo, a resourceful white American living in the woods. The story focuses on the development of a "wilderness" area (as classified by European Americans) as a settled European-American community with refinements. The story takes place in the fictional town of Тempleton, which is said to be modeled after Cooperstown, New York, founded by Cooper's father after the Revolutionary War.

Naturalist ideas: Although not classified as a naturalist novel, Cooper depicts many naturalist based ideas in The Pioneers. His use of language, dialogue and description help to convey this movement within this novel.

“It is much better to kill only such you want, without wasting your powder and lead, then to be firing into God’s creatures in such a wicked manner.” (Natty to Judge Marmeduke) – Chapter XXII, The Slaughter of Pigeons

Tone: Cooper's tone in The Pioneers is critical and mocking of traditional society, “established society”. The dialogue of the settlers displays the carelessness of their society towards the wilderness. The scene in Chapter II (The Judge's History of Settlement) is an exaggerated depiction of the reactions of the settlers to a falling tree and storm. The naivety of the settlers is portrayed in their responses to their journey into the wilderness. Cooper's mocking and critical tone is seen throughout the novel.

Characters

Illustration by Felix Octavius Carr Darley The Pioneers illustration by Darley.jpg
Illustration by Felix Octavius Carr Darley

Reception

Based on a reading of The Pioneers,The British Magazine dubbed Cooper the best and most original of all US authors, but nevertheless charged him with copying the style of Sir Walter Scott. The Literary Gazette critiqued the story as not so much a novel but a collection of pleasant depictions of American scenery. The Newcastle Magazine called it one of America's best novels. John Neal in American Writers (1824–25) critiqued the novel's character traits as repetitive but nevertheless praised Bumppo as true to life. [1]

Film adaptation

The novel inspired The Pioneers , a film released by Monogram Pictures in 1941. [2]

References

  1. Cairns, William B. (1922). British Criticisms of American Writings 1815–1833: A Contribution to the Study of Anglo-American Literary Relationships. University of Wisconsin Studies in Language and Literature Number 14. Madison, Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin. pp. 123–124. OCLC   1833885.
  2. Österberg, Bertil O. (2001). Colonial America on Film and Television: A Filmography. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 35. ISBN   9780786450589.

Further reading