Cooper describes him about a third of the way into the book as:
"... the most striking feature about the moral organization of Pathfinder was beautiful and unerring sense of justice. This noble trait—and without it no man can be truly great... As might have been expected... his fidelity was like the immovable rock; treachery in him was classed among the things which are impossible; and as he seldom retired before his enemies, so was he never known... to abandon a friend..."
OK. The paragraph goes on and on. It is not always easy reading. Still, this is the man we need now, and men like him, to rid the world of the bad guys and remind us who the good guys really are.
If the classics of American literature have turned you away; give Cooper a chance. Visit the adventure of a previous time. There is fun to be had and suspense, without a serial killer in sight.
Edited: PC
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Article comments
1 - DrPat
Great review of a well-regarded classic, Alpha! I remember discovering the Leatherstocking Tales in my dad's library, and falling in love with them long before I knew they would be required reading someday. (I was captured by Ivanhoe in the same way, baffling my fourth-grade teacher, who expected a book report featuring Andy Hardy or Tom Swift, and got Coeur-de-Lion instead!)
2 - Nancy
These lovely books belong to a period when there was more leisure & time for description, together with a tolerance for moral exposition. It's really amazing to read them & realize he's talking about places like modern-day Poughkeepsie!
3 - Pat Cummings
This book review has been selected for Advance.net. You’ll be able to find this and other Blog Critics reviews at such places as Cleveland.com’s Book Reviews column.
4 - Temple Stark
May I call you A?
You're an editor's pick of the week. Click HERE to find out why.
Thank you for the writing.
5 - Bliffle
"Read him for fun and for a sense of the history of the country when it was young and the world was simpler."
Excellent reading, especially for young boys. Should be on every young mans bookshelf, along with Stevensons classics like "Treasure Island", "Inland Voyage" and "Travels with a Donkey".
A meritorious young woman would do well to examine a prospective suitors bookshelf to assure that he has had the benefit of these tutors of manhood.