THE PRAIRIE
Author:
James Fenimore Cooper
First edition:
The Prairie, 1827
Main illustrators:
Andriolli Bombled Brock
In short:
Cooper takes again the character of Natty Bumppo at the age of 90, with his dog Hector. Wandering along the prairie, he finds a convoy of immigrants driven by Ishmael Bush. Thanks to Natty Bumppo's help, the convoy avoids an Indian attack. He meets a young soldier, Duncan Uncas Middleton, a descendant of his former friend Duncan Hayward. The young man tells him that he is looking for his fiancé, Dofia Ines de Certavallos, kidnapped by some highwaymen. They soon discover that this young lady is kept prisoner by the convoy. They manage to runh away with Natty Bumppo but they fall in Sioux's hands. Eventually they free themselves and seek help with white soldiers. But Natty Bumppo feels he is going to die and so he does.
Selection of edition:
The prairie, illustrated by Brock, 25 illustrations.
La Prairie, illustrated by Andriolli, Firmin-Didot, 1885, 135 ill.
La Prairie, illustrated by L.C. Bombled, Boivin, 1932.
More about The Prairie:
The Prairie is the fifth book of a long series of adventures where Cooper describes American life at the time of pioneers moving towards the West. The five books are published as follows: Pioneers, The Last of the Mohicans, The Prairie, The Pathfinder and Deerslayer.