Precaution
by James Fenimore Cooper
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Though he would later rise to prominence as one of the most important American writers of his generation, James Fenimore Cooper's first literary effort was inspired by a wager with his wife, to whom he had offhandedly remarked that he could probably write a more exciting book than the English domestic novels that were the bestsellers of the day. Strongly influenced by Jane Austen, Precaution was initially published under a female pseudonym..
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Moderately interesting book about English nobility in the early 1800's - specifically involving the familial relations between that of Sir Edward Moseley and that of the Earl of Pendennyss. A fascinating look into the seemingly bizarre rituals these families go through to maintain their appropriate 'upright' standing amongst society....much wooing and rejection and more wooing and betrayal.....all with a somewhat casual emphasis on whether there is any appropriate chemistry. There is also a heavy focus on Christian morality and the importance of never sacrificing principles. Ultimately worth the effort, but there were moments when i was absolutely overwhelmed by the names, titles and ever-changing referencres to different generations of show more the same families with similar names......and plenty of flowery, convoluted language from the period, or at least of that of Cooper when written....long drawn out sentences full of qualifiers that were difficult to follow....but like the foreign subtitled films that i am convinced i will not be able to engage in, the brain has a remarkable ability to reprogram itself and when i was able to stay with it for a while, that effort seemed less on my part. I also very much loved this actual 1880 hardcover volume....beautiful feel, smell, binding and beauty....almost hated for it to end just cuz i liked carrying it around. .This is my first Cooper, and also one of his very early books. I will be anxious to compare this and its style with those of his famous books when i get to them. show less
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1820s
8 works; 1 member
Fiction (Mostly) in Selective Bibliography of American Literature 1775-1900
431 works; 3 members
Author Information

500+ Works 30,600 Members
James Fenimore Cooper, acclaimed as one of the first American novelists, was born in Burlington, N.J., on September 15, 1789. When he was one year old, his family moved to Cooperstown, N.Y., which was founded by his father. Cooper attended various grammar schools in Burlington, Cooperstown, and Albany, and entered Yale University in 1803 at the show more age of 13. In 1806, Cooper was expelled from Yale for pushing a rag with gunpowder under a classmate's door, causing it to explode. He then spent some time as a merchant seaman and served as a midshipman in the U.S. Navy from 1808-1811. In 1811, Cooper married Susan De Lancey, and lived the life of a country gentleman until one day in 1820. Cooper and his wife were reading a book together. When Cooper told Susan that he could write a better book than the one they were reading, she challenged him to do so. Thus began his career as an author, with Precaution (first published anonymously). Cooper is known for writing more than 50 works under his own name, Jane Morgan, and Anonymous. His works included fiction, nonfiction, history, and travel sketches. He gained insight for his travel works while the Cooper family lived in Europe from 1826 to 1833. Cooper is best known for the novel The Last of The Mohicans, which has been made into several motion picture adaptations, the most recent starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Hawkeye. The Last of the Mohicans is part of The Leatherstocking Tales, which includes the other novels, The Pioneers, The Deerslayer, and The Pathfinder. Hawkeye, whose given name is Nathaniel Bumpo, is a recurring character in the series which accurately chronicles early American pioneering life and events during the French and Indian War. In 1851, Cooper developed a liver condition, dying on September 14th of that year, just one day before his 62nd birthday. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1820
- First words
- "I wonder if we are to have a neighbor in the Deanery soon," inquired Clara Moseley, addressing herself to a small party assembled in her father's drawing-room, while standing at a window which commanded a distant view of the... (show all) house in question.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"Give her delicacy, religion, and a proper taste, aided by the unseen influence of a prudent parent's care, and the chances of a woman for happiness would be much greater than they are; and I am entirely of your opinion -- 'That prevention is at all times better than cure.'"
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- Members
- 69
- Popularity
- 452,401
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.88)
- Languages
- English, French, German
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 35
- ASINs
- 10





























































