James Fenimore Cooper's "The Last of the Mohicans".

This episode is from the WNYC archives. It may contain language which is no longer politically or socially appropriate.

Adaptation by Edward Goldberger. Directed by Mitchell Grayson. "Cooper's Life" by Louis H. Horowitz. Cast: Walter Black, Sylvia Lee, Jean Logan, Ralph Smiley, Harry Gordon, Nathan Ackerman, Lou Daniels, Edwin Clay, Elise Worth, Shelly Howe, and (?) Smith. Guest commentator Warren Bower.

1757 England and France are at war over America. A small party with an Indian guide in upstate New York. Characters include Colonel Munro, Major Heyward, Alice, Cora, Gamut, Magua, Hawkeye.

Dramatization of life of the author, James Fenimore Cooper. On the wagon train, his mother and father are talking. She hopes her son does not inherit wanderlust of his father. They settle and name it Cooperstown. From a settlement of wagons to village of log cabins, forest, panthers, wolves and bears. At age 17, he talks to his father about wanting to go to Yale. Left early and went to New York and finished school with a Master's degree at Columbia University. Decides to become a sailor. Returns to United States from a trip and joins the Navy.

Stationed in Oswego, Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain. These locations gave him background for his future novels. At Champlain, met his wife, resigned and moved to Westchester. Wrote several books. His fame spread through United States, Great Britain, and finally Europe.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 8934
Municipal archives id: LT6808