The Last of the Mohicans (Unabridged‪)‬

I remember reading The Last of the Mohicans when I was about seven and spending the next year trying to emulate the amazing tracking and shooting skills of Hawkeye and Chingachgook. Every child should have that experience.

However, this narrator, although very good in his own right, is not an ideal match for this book. His reading speed varies considerably, the dialog being very slow and some of the text so fast it was hard to understand, even if it was one way of dealing with Cooper’s wordiness. Moreover, the 18th-century American accents embedded in his modern English speech drew attention to the creaky writing with its little ladies and noble savages. Just maybe – and I cannot believe I am saying this – this is one case where an abridged version, or a more expensive unabridged version, might really be better.

This was another “price is right” purchase. Due to the nature of the writing, narration and period of the book, it took a while for me to admire the subtle text and charm of this book. It is authored beautifully to take the reader on a romantic ride on the wild and dangerous northern Americas of the late 18th century. Appreciation for its main characters build as the pages and chapters gracefully reveal the true Americans and their new conquerors. A wonderful classic!

Wonderful story and the reader was extremely good! Great entertainment and value.