James Fenimore Cooper James Fenimore Cooperwas born on September 15, 1789 in New Jersey, the USA. He was the first major American novelist, the author of the novels of frontier adventures known as the Leatherstocking Tales. They include such books as The Pioneers (1823), The Last of the Mohicans (1826), and The Prairie (1827).
Cooper’s mother, Elizabeth Fenimore, was a member of a respectable New Jersey family, and his father, William, founded a frontier settlement at the source of the Susquehanna River, , which is now called Cooperstown.
James was the 11th of 12 children. After private schooling in Albany, Cooper attended Yale from 1803 to 1805. Unfortunately, there is little information about his college years. However, he was the best Latin student of his class. But he was expelled in his junior year because of a prank. Since he was very active, his family allowed him to join the navy as a midshipman. After his father’s death Cooper became financially independent. In 1811 he married Susan De Lancy and left the navy.
He wrote and published his first book as a challenge from his wife. His second novel, The Spy (1821), was based on a British model, Sir Walter Scott’s books. But in The Spy Cooper used a new American setting, based partly on the experience of his wife’s family. The Spy soon brought him international fame and a certain amount of wealth. Leatherstocking Tales followed the successful formula of The Spy. Both Cooper and his public were fascinated by the Leatherstocking character. He was encouraged to write a series of books in which the entire life of the frontier scout was gradually unfolded. The Last of the Mohicans (1826) takes the reader back to the French and Indian wars. In this book Cooper managed to portray the romantic wilderness of American Indians and compare them to epic Celtic heroes.
Task 2. GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY
Find right meaning of words: American pioneers, a countess, an advertisement, a settlement, a character
-a town or village that people built to live in after arriving from somewhere else
-a person in a book, film, etc
-any people in American history who migrated west
-a wife of a count or an earl (European noble men)
-a public notice, published in the press or broadcast over the air
Task 3. Writing.
Choose the correct gerund or infinitive from the parentheses at the end of the sentence.
Guys, stop … (to talk/talking).
Maksat can’t afford … (to travel/travelling) this year.
My mother decided … (to return /returning) to Almaty.
My friend likes … (to play/playing) chess with me.
Alex can’t stand … (to study /studding) on Monday.
I hate (to wait/ waiting)
