The Prairie
The Prairie, published in 1827, is the last novel in the Leatherstocking Tales series: The Deerslayer (pub. 1841); The Last of the Mohicans (pub. 1826); The Pathfinder (pub. 1840); The Pioneers (pub. 1823); The Prairie (pub. 1827). Set in the expansive American frontier, the story follows Natty Bumppo, also known as the Trapper, in his later years as he navigates the vast, untamed plains of the Midwest. As civilization encroaches on the wilderness, Natty encounters settlers, Native Americans, and opportunists, all struggling for survival and dominance in this rugged landscape. Cooper explores themes of nature versus civilization, individual freedom, and the vanishing frontier, capturing the tension and beauty of the American wilderness during its expansion.
