"In the third installment of the Leatherstocking Tales, Cooper takes his main character, here called the Pathfinder (Natty Bumppo) and examines his role as an explorer for British/Colonial forces in the forests and islands around the Great Lakes. The story is a classic historical adventure/romance and Bumppo falls in love, for the first and only time in the five novels, only to see his choice fall in love with another man - a younger man and good friend of Natty's. Probably the best of the five Leatherstocking novels."
Kelly Whiting, Resident Scholar
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Review Analysis of The Pathfinder
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Tone of story
- very upbeat
How difficult to spot villain?
- Moderately Challenging
Time/era of story:
- 18th century
Exploring into the wild
Yes
Plotlets:
- stranded
- getting to know a nice woman
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- explorer
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much violence does he/she use?
- a significant amount
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- spy
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an above average amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Northeast
Forest?
Yes
Water?
Yes
Water:
- sail boat
- peddle boat
- warship
- swimming on
- drowning
Island?
Yes
Island:
- stranded
Misc setting
- fort/military installation
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths?
- 8 or more
Unusual forms of death
- drowned
- decapitated
- perforation--bullets
- perforation--swords/knives
- blunt clubbing (like seals)
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog