First printing of Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans

Publication Context. The Last of the Mohicans is an 1826 historical romance novel by James Fenimore Cooper. It was first published in 1826 by Carey & Lea, a publishing house based in Philadelphia. The book became the first novel written by an American to achieve bestseller status both domestically and internationally, necessitating several reprintings to meet demand.

Origin of the Work. According to Cooper's eldest daughter, Susan Fenimore Cooper, the author first conceived the idea for the book in 1825 during a visit to the Adirondack Mountains with a party of English gentlemen. In a separate account, the party also passed through the Catskills, an area Cooper knew well from his earlier novel, The Pioneers; the passages describe these as distinct locations.

Writing and Departure. Cooper wrote The Last of the Mohicans in New York City, where he lived from 1822 to 1826. In 1826, he moved his family to Europe to increase income from his books and improve his health. He announced his intentions to write historical works while abroad during a farewell dinner speech before departing.