Set during the French and Indian War, The Last of the Mohicans follows sisters Cora and Alice Munro, who, along with Major Duncan Heyward, attempt to reach their father at Fort William Henry. Their journey becomes dangerous when they're betrayed by the Huron guide, Magua, only to be rescued by the frontiersman Hawk-eye and his Mohican companions, Chingachgook and Uncas. The story unfolds with perilous battles, captures, and chases, highlighting themes of cultural conflict and the tragic decline of Native American tribes.
James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans (1826) holds significant historical importance as one of the earliest American novels to depict frontier life during the French and Indian War. By intertwining fictional narratives with real historical events, such as the 1757 siege of Fort William Henry, Cooper offers readers a vivid portrayal of the era's cultural conflicts and the complexities of Native American-European relations. The novel's enduring influence is evident in its numerous adaptations and its role in shaping the genre of historical fiction in American literature.