Notions of the Americans: Picked Up by a Travelling Bachelor

by James Fenimore Cooper

Notions of the Americans in considered Cooper's first work of non-fiction despite a thin overlay of character and plot. Written in the form of a travel narrative, it addresses the widespread ignorance he encountered in Europe about the people and institutions of the United States. It is an exuberant chant of praise for American representative democracy, encapsulating the utopian vision that compelled Cooper's writing career over three decades. The introduction draws on materials never before published. this edition, distinguished by the seal of the Center for Scholarly Editions, is the first resetting of the text since the initial American edition in 1828.

807 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1828

About the author

James Fenimore Cooper was a popular and prolific American writer. He is best known for his historical novel The Last of the Mohicans, one of the Leatherstocking Tales stories, and he also wrote political fiction, maritime fiction, travelogues, and essays on the American politics of the time. His daughter Susan Fenimore Cooper was also a writer.

Series:
* The Leatherstocking Tales
* The Littlepage Manuscripts
* Afloat and Ashore
* Homeward Bound

Reviews

[42day · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being as JFC's mother is a blood relative I am more than obligated to read his books.

[Chris Maddix · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Fenimore Cooper may well have been the most ardent patriot of America's noteworthy early authors, and he wished to be known as such, preferring a potential reputation as a social and political observer over that of author of such books as Last of the Mohicans or Deerslayer. He failed in this endeavor, but it wasn't for lack of effort. This two volume book was written in response to perceived British opinion about Americans. Notions of the Americans was written as if Cooper were a visiting native of Great Britain creating letters to various recipients describing his reactions to cultural, geographical, political and social aspects of America.