Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences

Fenimore Cooper - author of The Deerslayer, The Last of the Mohicans, etc - has often been praised, but just as often been criticised for his writing. Mark Twain wrote a funny, vicious little essay on the subject, in which he states: "In one place in 'Deerslayer,' and in the restricted space of two-thirds of a page, Cooper has scored 114 offences against literary art out of a possible 115."
(Summary by Gesine) (0 hr 32 min)

Chapters

Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offenses	32:42	Read by Gesine

Reviews

Enlightening critique

(4 stars)

ListeninginChicago

Twain writes with his usual biting humor. He clearly doesn't think much of Cooper's writing and illustrates his critique with examples that helped me to think more critically about what makes a good story. I would recommend this short essay to all who want to understand what makes a great writer - or more accurately, what makes a popular writer not so great after all.

Witty and enlightful

(4 stars)

Ms. Elizabeth

This has been very helpful. There have been books I have listened to that I had never been able to figure out why they were so hard to get into. Gesine is wonderful. I wish she would read more solo books.

Copper Roast

(4 stars)

A LibriVox Listener

A quick, reasonably presented criticism of James Fenimore Cooper's work. This says more about Mark Twain's literary style than it does anything else. a fun, easy listen.

(3.5 stars)

A LibriVox Listener

Would have liked it better if John Greenman had read it.