The Eclipse

by James Fenimore Cooper

The Eclipse is a memoir or autobiographical vignette by James Fenimore Cooper that was written between 1833 and 1838 recounting his own experience of a total eclipse of the sun in Cooperstown on the morning of June 16, 1806. It was published posthumously in the September, 1869 issue of Putnam's Monthly Magazine. Susan, Cooper's daughter, found it among his papers. James Fenimore Cooper (September 15, 1789 - September 14, 1851) was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. His historical romances of frontier and Indian life in the early American days created a unique form of American literature. He lived most of his life in Cooperstown, New York, which was established by his father William. Cooper was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church and in his later years contributed generously to it. He attended Yale University for three years, where he was a member of the Linonian Society, but was expelled for misbehavior. Before embarking on his career as a writer he served in the U.S. Navy as a Midshipman which greatly influenced many of his novels and other writings. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales. Among naval historians Cooper's works on the early U.S. Navy have been well received, but they were sometimes criticized by his contemporaries. Among his most famous works is the Romantic novel The Last of the Mohicans, often regarded as his masterpiece.

Genres: Short Stories, Nonfiction, Classics, Biography, Memoir

26 pages, Paperback

First published September 25, 2003

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

[Natalee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple but beautiful grasp of language to describe the experience of watching an eclipse.

[thewanderingjew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading the description of this natural phenomena which will again occur this year, August 21, 2017. How nice it is to read something that neither degrades or glorifies humans, flagrantly flaunts sex or uses foul language to entice certain readers, but rather uses the English language both lucidly and beautifully to describe the majestic occurrence of a total solar eclipse with dignity!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected this to have some sort of plot, but being a letter, rather than a short story, I was disappointed. The author describes a solar eclipse and the language is beautiful and touching. However, there is tangent about a teacher being executed for beating a pupil to death and I wanted to hear more about that and how it related to the eclipse.

[Niamh Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this to try help me sleep and it very much did the opposite. He said 'boyish' like ten times and the language was generally pretty intense. The whole part about the teacher that beat a child to death was the most intense tho

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a fine description. The lack of plot just made this too dull for me I am afraid.

[Ik · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great use of language, but very boring nonetheless.

[Paul LaFontaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cooper explains his experience witnessing an eclipse in 1806. It is a brief snapshot of what happened.

Not badly written but only a general description of the event.

Cautiously recommend

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like books with amazing and flowing descriptions, this is not a story to miss.