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The Freeman’s Journal, Cooperstown, New York, December 6, 1911, p. 1

Contributed by Tom Heitz, Otsego Town Co-Historian.

COOPER IN GERMANY

LEATHERSTOCKING STILL A POPULAR HERO

A Recent Edition of Cooper’s Novels Sold at $192 per Set in Berlin

Written for the Freeman’s Journal by RUDOLF DRESCHER, Hanau-on Main, Germany.

Among works of fiction of foreign literature only a few have become so generally well known and popular in Germany as the celebrated series of the Leatherstocking Tales of James Fenimore Cooper, the great American novelist. At the time when they first came to us across the ocean, they were greeted here, as everywhere in the civilized world, with enthusiasm and delight, and although many years have passed and many novels, now forgotten, have made their appearance during the long time since Cooper produced his far famed works, Leatherstocking has maintained his place of honour.

While other celebrated books are valued especially by one or the other class of the populace, these five tales are in favor with all classes of readers, and there is no doubt, if a literary work attains such a degree of fame and renown and keeps it for many decades, we many say almost for a century, this is the best proof of its high quality.

Like the numerous other works of Cooper, the five Leatherstocking tales were translated into German in the very same years of their publication in America. The first complete translated edition* of his novels appeared in Frankfort-on-Main during the years from about 1824–1850, and the first of the five Leatherstocking tales, The Pioneers, which was published in 1822 [sic], was translated several times during the next three or four years. In my possession is a copy of one of these first German editions of The Pioneers, bearing the date of 1826, in the preface of which the translator refers to earlier translations of the work. That this delightful tale was universally known and read everywhere, immediately after its appearance, we find confirmed in a remark of the German poet Hauff, who wrote in the preface of his novel of Lichtenstein, which was published in 1826, “The sources of the Susquehanna are here in the mouth of everyone!”

The Last of the Mohicans, The Prairie, Pathfinder and Deerslayer followed in due course of time, and almost in every house we find, if not the whole series, some single volumes of the Leatherstocking.

The first translation was followed within the course of the next decade by several other translations which appeared in Berlin, Stuttgart and elsewhere. Besides these translations we have here in Germany a very great number of shortened editions and arrangements for juvenile readers. The value of these arrangements, however, is very different from that of the abler translations. On the one hand it is not to be denied that the Leatherstocking Tales, through these shortened and arranged editions became so universally popular that almost everyone has read them, so that Natty Bumppo, Chingachgook and Uncas are as well known here as the most celebrated heroes of our own literature and history. But, on the other hand, they have the disadvantage, that the sublime beauties of the original are unknown to many readers who know the Leatherstocking series only through the abridged editions.

It is fair to add, however, that during the last two years two new complete translations of the whole series have been issued – one in Berlin, the other in Leipzig “in order to bring to life again the oldest and best of all Indian novels in its original form” as one of the editors says in a preface. Both editions are excellent, that which appeared in Berlin was issued in rather an artistic style. One of our most celebrated German painters, Max Slevogt, has drawn 180 pictures, representing scenes, of the Leatherstocking Tales and these drawings are combined with the new translation in a very magnificent work of art! This has been issued in two different editions at the prices of 800 marks and 250 marks ($192 and $60) for the series, and in spite of these high prices the whole editions are sold. This may also show how very highly Cooper’s Leatherstocking is valued here even now. The other editions are cheaper – without illustrations – and met also with a large sale.

These new translations were greeted at their appearance with joy by a great number of the most important German newspapers who call the Leatherstocking the best of all Indian stories, a masterpiece of American literature, which first brought to our knowledge the poetical charms of the American primeval forests, the prairies, and the manners and customs of the red men.

So from the time of the first German editions until now Leatherstocking was and is a general favorite here in Germany, and there is no doubt that future generations will also enjoy with equal delight these famous tales. We know that Cooper himself has said that if any of his works were destined to outlive him, it was the series of the Leatherstocking. That he was not mistaken in his prophecy we see in the lasting interest commanded by his masterpiece, which ranks among the best of the literature of the world, now and in future times.

* This edition does not include his first novel, Precaution and his last work, The Ways of twhe Hour, which are wholly unknown in Germany; so far as I know, they were never translated into German.