Set in the forests of upstate New York during the French and Indian War, James Fenimore Cooper’s 1826 novel has become one of the most enduring works of early American literature. It helped define the frontier myth, shaped American ideas about Native peoples, and influenced generations of writers, filmmakers, and cultural storytellers.

Today, as we mark its 200th anniversary, we explore its themes, its historical context, and its complicated legacy.

So in this episode, I’m asking… what is The Last of the Mohicans?

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Special guest for this episode:

1. Professor Thomas Ruys Smith, a scholar of American literature and culture at the University of East Anglia. His work spans the 19th century, with particular expertise in the intersections of literature, history, and national identity. He has written extensively on American storytelling traditions, frontier mythology, and the cultural imagination of the early United States.

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Highlights from this episode:

02:09 - Standing the test of time

06:21 - America's newfound sense of self

10:36 - The story of The Last of the Mohicans

15:40 - Romanticising colonisation

21:23 - What the frontier means for America

27:09 - White male heroes

31:29 - Native American representations

35:57 - National identity isn't just black and white

40:32 - A more colourful America

47:05 - I'm freakin' Hawkeye

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Additional Resources:

1. The Last of the Mohicans — Free eBook
2. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/940
3. LitCharts: Themes and Analysis
4. https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-last-of-the-mohicans (litcharts.com in Bing)
5. SparkNotes: Summary and Themes
6. https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/mohicans/
7. Novelguide: Theme Analysis
8. https://novelguide.com/the-last-of-the-mohicans/theme-analysis (novelguide.com in Bing)
9. Montclair State University: Theme PDF https://cyber.montclair.edu/Resources/B2F9F/501012/ThemeOfLastOfTheMohicans.pdf (cyber.montclair.edu in Bing)
10. Encyclopedia Britannica: Cooper Biography
11. https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Fenimore-Cooper (britannica.com in Bing)
12. Library of Congress: Cooper Collection
13. https://www.loc.gov/collections/james-fenimore-cooper/about-this-collection/ (loc.gov in Bing)
14. American Literature: Cooper Overview