The Pathfinder.

The man who can read a forest like a page finds himself, for once, unsure of his own heart. The Pathfinder shows James Fenimore Cooper's celebrated scout in a role his skills never prepared him for.

What it's about

Amid the lakes and garrisons of the northern frontier, the guide known as Pathfinder escorts a small company through dangerous country during the colonial wars. As ambush and betrayal threaten, he also finds himself drawn to a young woman, and must weigh his own hopes against her happiness and the claims of a younger rival. The wilderness plot and the quiet romance advance together toward a test of character.

Themes

Loyalty, self-denial and the dignity of stepping aside for another's good sit at the novel's centre, set against Cooper's familiar contrasts of nature and society, honesty and deceit. It is among the most emotionally tender of the Leatherstocking books.

Why it still matters

The novel rounds out the portrait of one of American fiction's earliest heroes, showing that his greatness lies as much in generosity as in marksmanship. Its blend of adventure and feeling helped define the frontier romance.

Who it's for

Readers who enjoyed the other Leatherstocking tales, lovers of wilderness adventure with a romantic thread, and those curious about the roots of American popular fiction.