Appendix
Partial Bibliography of Cooper’s Writings
The following list embraces the first editions of Cooper’s works; articles contributed to magazines; and two or three of the most important communications sent to the newspapers. The titles of his works, as published in England, were sometimes different from the titles used in the United States; and whenever this is the case the former are subjoined. It is also to be remarked that Cooper’s works were sometimes published earlier in Europe than they were in America; but the dates given in this biography belong exclusively to the publication of his works in this country. With the exception of No. 45 and of No. 67, all his tales were originally published in two volumes in America; with the exception of No. 45 they were originally published in three volumes in England. First editions of many of his novels are now rarely to be found in libraries; and the titles given have in several cases, in consequence, been taken from contemporary book notices and not from personal examination. The titles are given in the order of publication of the writings.
1. Precaution; a Novel. 2 vols. New York: A. T. Goodrich & Co., 1820.
The English edition appeared in March, 1821.
2. The Spy; a Tale of the Neutral Ground. By the Author of Precaution. 2 vols. New York: Wiley & Halsted, 1821.
The English edition appeared in March, 1822.
3. The Pioneers; or the Sources of the Susquehanna. A Descriptive Tale. By the Author of Precaution. 2 vols. New York: Charles Wiley, 1823.
The English edition appeared in March, 1823.
4. The Pilot; A Tale of the Sea, By the Author of The Pioneers, etc. 2 vols. New York: Charles Wiley, 1823. The first edition bears the imprint of 1823, but was not actually published until early in January, 1824.
5. Lionel Lincoln; or the Leaguer of Boston. By the Author of The Pioneers, Pilot, etc. 2 vols. New York: Charles Wiley, 1825.
6. The Last of the Mohicans. A Narrative of 1757. By the Author of The Pioneers. 2 vols. Philadelphia: H. C. Carey & I. Lea, 1826.
7. The Prairie; a Tale. By the Author of The Pioneers and The Last of the Mohicans. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey, 1827.
8. The Red Rover; a Tale. By the Author of The Pilot, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey, 1828.
9. Notions of the Americans; Picked up by a Travelling Bachelor. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey, 1828.
10. The Wept of Wish-ton-Wish; a Tale. By the Author of The Pioneers, Prairie, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey, 1829.
In England this was published under the title of “The Borderers; or the Wept of Wish-ton-Wish.” It has also been published with the title of “The Heathcotes.”
11. The Water-Witch; or the Skimmer of the Seas. A Tale. By the Author of The Pilot, Red Rover, etc., etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey & Lea, 1830.
12. The Bravo; a Tale. By the Author of The Spy, The Red Rover, The Water Witch, etc., etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey & Lea, 1831.
13. Letter of J. Fenimore Cooper to Gen. Lafayette on the Expenditure of the United States of America. 50 pp. Paris: Baudry’s Foreign Library, 1831.
14. The Heidenmauer; or the Benedictines. A Legend of the Rhine. By the Author of The Prairie, Red Rover, Bravo, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey & Lea, 1832.
15. Letter to the American Public.
Dated Vevay, Canton de Vaud, Oct. 1, 1832; first published in Philadelphia National Gazette, Dec. 6. The subject is the Expenses’ Controversy. It occupies about two columns.
16. The Headsman; or the Abbaye des Vignerons. A Tale. By the Author of The Bravo, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1833.
17. A Letter to His Countrymen. By J. Fenimore-Cooper. 116 pp. New York: John Wiley, 1834.
18. The Monikins; edited by the Author of The Spy. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1835.
19. Comparative Resources of the American Navy.
In Naval Magazine, vol. i, No. 1, January, 1836, pp. 19-33.
20. Hints on Manning the Navy, etc., etc.
In Naval Magazine, vol. i., No. 2, March, 1836, pp. 176-191. This was published the following May in pamphlet form by the “Committee of Publication for the Naval Magazine.”
21. Sketches of Switzerland. By an American. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1836.
The English title was “Excursions in Switzerland.”
22. Sketches of Switzerland. By an American. Part Second. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1836.
The English title was “A Residence in France; with an Excursion up the Rhine, and a Second Visit to Switzerland.”
23. Gleanings in Europe. By an American. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1837.
This work is devoted to France. Its English title is “Recollections of Europe.”
24. Gleanings in Europe. England; by an American. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1837.
This was published in England under the title of “England; with Sketches of Society in the Metropolis.”
25. Letter to the Editors of the Knickerbocker. (On the relations between himself and Sir Walter Scott, etc.)
In Knickerbocker Magazine, vol. xi., April, 1838, pp. 380-386.
26. Gleanings in Europe. Italy; by an American. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1838.
27. The American Democrat; or Hints on the Social and Civic Relations of the United States of America. By J. Fenimore Cooper. Pp. 192. Cooperstown: H. & E. Phinney, 1838.
28. The Chronicles of Cooperstown. Pp. 100. Cooperstown: H. & E. Phinney, 1838.
Published anonymously. Republished at Albany in 1862 with additional notes and details bringing the events down to that year. The republication is entitled “A Condensed History of Cooperstown; with a Biographical Sketch of J. Fenimore Cooper. By Rev. T. S. Livermore, A. M.” It is a volume of 276 pages, and contains Bryant’s funeral discourse on Cooper, with much other matter. The “Chronicles of Cooperstown” extend from page 9 to page 86 inclusive.
29. Homeward Bound; or the Chase. A Tale of the Sea. By the Author of The Pilot, The Spy, etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Blanchard, 1838.
30. Review of the “Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott, Bart. By J. G. Lockhart.”
In Knickerbocker Magazine, October, 1838, vol. xii., pp. 349-366.
31. Home as Found. By the Author of Homeward Bound, The Pioneers, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1838.
In England published under the title of “Eve Effingham; or Home.”
32. The History of the Navy of the United States of America. By J. Fenimore Cooper. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1839.
33. Letters in “Cooperstown Freeman’s Journal,” July 1st and July 8th, 1839.
A reply to the criticism upon his Naval History, or rather upon his account of the battle of Lake Erie, which had appeared in the New York Commercial Advertiser in June, 1839. The first letter occupies two columns, the second more than three.
34. The Pathfinder; or the Inland Sea. By the Author of The Pioneers, Last of the Mohicans, etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1840.
35. Mercedes of Castile; or the Voyage to Cathay. By the Author of The Bravo, The Last of the Mohicans, etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1840.
The English title was “Mercedes of Castile. A Romance of the Days of Columbus.”
36. History of the Navy of the United States of America. Abridged in one volume. Pp. 447. Philadelphia: Thomas Cowperthwait & Co., 1841.
37. The Deerslayer; or the First War Path. A Tale. By the Author of The Last of the Mohicans, The Pioneers, etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1841.
38. “Home as Found. Lost Chapter.” Preceded by a “Preface,” and a “Letter to the Editor.” In the “Brother Jonathan” newspaper of January 1, 1842.—Followed by a Letter to the Editor, from Cooper, on “The Effingham Matter,” in same paper for February 12, 1842, and by two articles on “The Effingham Controversy,” in the numbers for March 26, 1842, and April 9, 1842.
39. The Two Admirals; a Tale. By the Author of The Pilot, Red Rover, Water Witch, Homeward Bound, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1842.
40. Edinburgh Review on James’ Naval Occurrences and Cooper’s Naval History.
In the United States Magazine and Democratic Review, vol. x., for May and June, 1842. First article, pp. 409-435; second article, pp. 515-541.
41. Richard Somers.
In Graham’s Magazine for October, 1842.
42. William Bainbridge.
In Graham’s Magazine for November, 1842.
43. The Wing-and-Wing; or Le Feu-Follet. A Tale. By the Author of The Pilot, Red Rover, Two Admirals, Homeward Bound, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1842.
In England this was published under the title “The Jack o’ Lantern (Le Feu-Follet); or the Privateer.”
44. Richard Dale.
In Graham’s Magazine for December, 1842.
45. Autobiography of a Pocket Handkerchief.
In Graham’s Magazine for January, February, March, and April, 1843. It came out in March among the publications of the “Brother Jonathan” newspaper office, and was then entitled “Le Mouchoir; an Autobiographical Romance.” The English title was “The French Governess; or the Embroidered Handkerchief.”
46. Oliver Hazard Perry.
In Graham’s Magazine for May and June, 1843.
47. John Paul Jones.
In Graham’s Magazine for July and August, 1843.
48. The Battle of Lake Erie; or Answers to Messrs. Burges, Duer, and Mackenzie. By J. Fenimore Cooper. Pp. 118. Cooperstown: H. & E. Phinney, 1843.
49. Wyandotte; or the Hutted Knoll. A Tale. By the Author of The Pathfinder, Deerslayer, Last of the Mohicans, Pioneers, Prairie, etc., etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1843.
50. Ned Myers; or a Life before the Mast. Edited by J. Fenimore Cooper. Pp. 232. Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1843.
51. John Shaw.
In Graham’s Magazine for March, 1844.
52. John Barry.
In Graham’s Magazine for June, 1844.
53. Afloat and Ashore; or the Adventures of Miles Wallingford. By the Author of The Pilot, Red Rover, The Two Admirals, etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Published by the Author, 1844.
54. Proceedings of the Naval Court Martial in the Case of Alexander Slidell Mackenzie, a Commander in the Navy of the United States, etc., including the Charges and Specifications of Charges, preferred against him by the Secretary of the Navy. To which is annexed an Elaborate Review. By James Fennimore Cooper. Pp. 344. New York: Henry G. Langley, 1844. (Cooper’s review extends from page 263 to page 344 inclusive. The spelling of the name was due to the publisher.)
55. Afloat and Ashore; or the Adventures of Miles Wallingford. By the Author of The Pilot, Red Rover, etc. Vols. 3 & 4. Published for the Author. New York: Burgess, Stringer & Co., 1844.
This second series of Afloat and Ashore goes in this country under the name of “Miles Wallingford.” In England it was published as “Lucy Hardinge.”
56. John Templer Shubrick.
In Graham’s Magazine for December, 1844.
57. Melancthon Taylor Woolsey.
In Graham’s Magazine for January, 1845.
58. Edward Preble.
In Graham’s Magazine for May and June, 1845.
59. Satanstoe; or the Littlepage Manuscripts. A Tale of the Colony. 2 vols. New York: Burgess, Stringer & Co., 1845.
60. The Chainbearer; or the Littlepage Manuscripts. Edited by the Author of Satanstoe, Spy, Pathfinder, Two Admirals, etc. 2 vols. New York: Burgess, Stringer & Co, 1846.
61. Lives of Distinguished American Naval Officers. By J. Fenimore Cooper. Author of The Spy, The Pilot, etc. 2 vols. Philadelphia: Carey & Hart, 1846. Also, 2 vols. Auburn: Derby & Jackson, 1846.
Volume I. contains, in the following order: Bainbridge (No. 42), Somers (No. 41), Shaw (No. 51), Shubrick (No. 56), Preble (No. 58).
Volume II. contains: Jones (No. 47), Woolsey (No. 57), Perry (No. 46), and Dale (No. 44); Barry (No. 52) was not included.
62. The Redskins; or Indian and Injin. Being the conclusion of the Littlepage Manuscripts. By the Author of The Pathfinder, Deerslayer, Two Admirals, etc. 2 vols. New York: Burgess & Stringer, 1846.
In England the title of this work was “Ravensnest; or the Redskins.”
63. The Islets of the Gulf; or Rose Budd.
Begun in Graham’s Magazine for November, 1846, and continued through every succeeding number until March, 1848, in which month it was concluded. It was published in book form March 21, 1848, by Burgess, Stringer & Co., as “Jack Tier; or the Florida Reefs.” In England the title was “Captain Spike; or the Islets of the Gulf.”
64. The Crater; or Vulcan’s Peak. A Tale of the Pacific. By the Author of Miles Wallingford, The Red Rover, The Pilot, etc., etc. 2 vols. New York: Burgess, Stringer & Co., 1847.
The English title was “Mark’s Reef; or the Crater.” Jack Tier; or the Florida Reefs, 1848. See No. 63.
65. The Oak Openings; or the Bee Hunter. By the Author of The Pioneers, Last of the Mohicans, Pathfinder, Deerslayer, etc., etc. 2 vols. New York: Burgess, Stringer & Co., 1848.
The English title was “The Bee Hunter; or the Oak Openings.”
66. The Sea Lions; or the Lost Sealers. By the Author of The Crater, etc. 2 vols. New York: Stringer & Townsend, 1849.
67. The Ways of the Hour; a Tale. By the Author of The Spy, The Red Rover, etc., etc. 1 vol. New York: G. P. Putnam, 1850.
Posthumous Publications
68. Old Ironsides.
In Putnam’s Magazine, vol. i., No. v., May, 1853, pp. 473-487; and in No. vi., June, 1853, pp. 593-607.
This is a history of the United States frigate Constitution.
69. Fragments from a Diary of James Fenimore Cooper.
In Putnam’s Magazine, new series, vol. i., February, 1868, pp. 167-172; and June, 1868, pp. 730-737.
70. The Battle of Plattsburgh Bay.
In January, 1869, of Putnam’s Magazine, vol. iii., new series, pp. 49-59.
A note to this article says that it was prepared as a lecture to be delivered before the New York Historical Society. The records of that Society, however, contain no reference to any lecture delivered by Cooper.
71. The Eclipse.
In Putnam’s Magazine, new series, vol. iv., for September, 1869, pp. 352-359. Written about 1831, and gives an account of the eclipse of the sun in June, 1806.
Besides these there are numerous letters written to the newspapers, and in particular the letters written to the Paris journal, the “National,” in 1833. During Cooper’s life it was frequently said that he was engaged in preparing a work on the Middle States of the Union; but no trace of such a production was found among his papers. A work of his on “The Towns of Manhattan” was partly finished and in press at the time of his death; but the portion printed was entirely destroyed by fire. Part of the manuscript, however, was recovered. On the 4th of August, 1841, Cooper also delivered an address before the Literary Societies of Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y.; but this he himself burned on the day it was delivered.
A few works have been wrongly attributed to him. One of these is “The Cruise of the Somers; illustrative of the Despotism of the Quarter Deck; and of the Unmanly Conduct of Commander Mackenzie.” New York: 1844. Another is “Elinor Wyllys; or the Young Folk of Longbridge.” Philadelphia: 1846. Of this novel Cooper was the nominal editor, and to it he contributed a short preface. A third work, which has been falsely attributed to him, is entitled “The Republic of the United States; its Duties to Itself, and its Responsible Relations to other Countries.” New York: 1848.