description The Prairie Overview
The Prairie, or The Prairie: A Tale, is an 1827 novel by American writer James Fenimore Cooper. It is the third published novel featuring Natty Bumppo and the final story chronologically in the five-book Leatherstocking Tales. Set on the Great Plains after the Louisiana Purchase, the novel follows the aging trapper as he encounters settlers, Native American characters, and conflicts linked to westward expansion. It is intended for readers of early American historical and adventure fiction.
help The Prairie FAQ
Do I need to read the other Leatherstocking Tales before The Prairie?
Not strictly, though it is the third published novel featuring Natty Bumppo, following The Pioneers (1823) and The Last of the Mohicans (1826). It works as a self-contained tale, but readers benefit from knowing Natty's earlier life.
What happens in The Prairie?
The aged Natty Bumppo, now known simply as the trapper, has retreated from the settled frontier to the Great Plains following the Louisiana Purchase. There he becomes entangled with squatters and travelers, and the novel ends with his death, closing out his story.
Why is The Prairie called the final Leatherstocking Tale?
The five-book series was not written in chronological order, and The Prairie (1827) is the last story in Natty Bumppo's life chronologically, ending with his death as an old man. Cooper later wrote The Pathfinder (1840) and The Deerslayer (1841), which portray earlier periods of his life.
What is Natty Bumppo called in The Prairie?
In this novel the hero is usually referred to as "the trapper," reflecting his great age and his flight from the shrinking wilderness. Earlier books knew him by names like Deerslayer, Hawkeye, and Pathfinder.
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