Synopses & Reviews
Famed for his novels of the American frontier (notably the Leatherstocking TaleS≪/i>) and of the sea, and also the author of a large body of social and political writings, James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) received mixed reviews from his contemporaries, who generally enjoyed the adventure tales but abhored his social preachings. His posthumous reputation has fluctuated widely. Savagely trashed by, among others, Mark Twain in 1895 for his literary offenses, Cooper was resurrected in 1931 by critic Robert E. Spiller, who viewed him as a profound social critic. By the mid-twentieth century, Cooper was widely praised as a pioneer in the development of the American social and political novel, though his literary qualities remained subject to attack in some quarters. Cooper has continued to be studied from myriad points of views and critical stances both as a writer and as a critic.
The immense body of criticism has been carefully channeled in this annotated bibliography of 1,943 reviews, journal articles, newspaper articles and editorials, dissertations, and books. The material is organized in chapters by broad subject category--Bibliography, Biography, General Studies, Frontier and Indian Novels, Literature of the Sea, Social and Political Writings, and Miscellaneous Publications; where appropriate the chapters are subdivided according to individual Cooper publications, with further divisions relatings to materials written before and after Cooper's death. This arrangement, together with a fascinating introductory survey of his critical reception and full author, and editor, and subject indexes, allows the researcher to trace the various topics and themes that have occupied a who's who of literary, intellectual, and social critics from 1820 to the present.
Review
The nearly 2,000 entries in this bibliography cite Cooper criticism and biography from 1820 to 1990. As well as citations to the usual reviews, books, and journal articles, there are citations to newspaper articles and editorials, dissertations and theses, satires, and scholarly introductions to Cooper's books. Both foreign and domestic items are covered, and the amount of 19th-century criticism cited is impressive. Indeed, those students who wish to go beyond the limits of what can be found in the MLA International Bibliography will find this work useful for years to come. Most citations are annotated with blunt, nonevaluative summaries of the item cited. The arrangement of the bibliography is slightly cumbersome, with citations grouped into broad categories that are further subdivided into "Articles and Reviews Contemporary With Cooper" and "Articles From Cooper's Death to the Present." The shortcomings of this arrangement are atoned for, however, by excellent indexing. Although this bibliography does not claim to be comprehensive, it will more than meet the needs of the undergraduate researcher and it will be extremely useful to the more advanced Cooper scholar. Recommended for all academic libraries.Choice
Review
This well-thought-out reference work on an important literary figure deserves space on most academic library shelves.ARBA
Synopsis
This carefully annotated bibliography of 1,943 sources, together with an introductory survey and full index, allows the researcher to trace the topics and themes that have occupied a who's who of critics from 1820 to the present.
Synopsis
Famed for his adventure novels of the American frontier and the sea, and also the author of social and political commentary, James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851) received widely fluctuating contemporaneous and posthumous reviews, but is generally regarded as a pioneer in the development of the American social and political novel. In this annotated bibliography of 1,943 sources, the immense body of criticism has been channeled into chapters by broad subject category and subdivided, as appropriate, by the Cooper work in question and in terms of criticism in his lifetime and after. This organization, together with an introductory survey of his critical reception and full indexing, allows the researcher to trace the topics and themes that have occupied a who's who of critics from 1820 to the present.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
Bibliography
Biography
General Studies
Frontier and Indian Novels
Literature of the Sea
Social and Political Writings
Miscellaneous Publications
Author and Editor Index
Subjects Index