This group was created as an informal gathering place for the discussion of the life and works of the American author James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851), America's first truly successful novelist. In addition to his well-known portrayals of frontier and forest in his five "Leatherstocking" tales (featuring the unforgettable Natty Bumppo), Cooper also immortalized America's "other" frontier, the sea, by fathering the genre of the sea novel in such stories as The Pilot, and The Red Rover. He was also an astute and often controversial social critic. A prolific writer, Cooper published about fifty books during a three-decade career which spanned from 1820 until his death in 1851.

People with all kinds of interests in Cooper are welcome here, from casual readers to scholars, book collectors to history lovers. Postings on any topic related to Cooper are welcome, so long as they are polite and in good taste. Questions and discussions about editions, historical allusions, characters, Cooper's life and times, and the significance of his work today are just a few of the many possibilities.

Though this group is meant to stand on its own, the founders of it are proud to be members of the James Fenimore Cooper Society, an organization dedicated to promoting the study and enjoyment of Cooper's life and works. Visit the Society's website to find the web's most comprehensive collection of Cooper resources.