James Fenimore Cooper books in order
American writer
- Lived
- 1789–1851
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 45
- Series
- 1
James Fenimore Cooper published 33 novels, 2 short story collections, 9 non-fiction books and 1 children's book, beginning with The Spy (1821). The series is Leatherstocking Tales (5 books, starting with The Pioneers). The best-known is The Last of the Mohicans (1824).
Updated September 2026
Leatherstocking Tales books in order (5)Series page
Reading order: 1 The Pioneers (1823) · 2 The Last of the Mohicans (1824) · 3 The Prairie (1827) · 4 The Pathfinder (1840) · 5 The Deerslayer (1841)
- 1.
The Pioneers (1823)
- 2.
The Last of the Mohicans (Feb 1824)
- 3.
The Prairie (1827)
- 4.
The Pathfinder (1840)
- 5.
The Deerslayer (1841)
Where to start with James Fenimore Cooper
Start here
The Pioneers
Book 1 of Leatherstocking Tales, the series that includes The Last of the Mohicans, James Fenimore Cooper's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
Precaution (1820)
The Spy (1821)
The Pilot: A Tale of the Sea (1823)
Lionel Lincoln (1825)
The Red Rover (Nov 1827)
The Wept of Wish-ton-Wish (1829)
The Water-Witch (1830)
The Bravo (1831)
The Heidenmauer (1832)
The Headsman: The Abbaye Des Vignerons (1833)
The Monikins (1835)
Home as Found (1838)
Homeward Bound (1838)
Mercedes of Castile (1840)
The Two Admirals (1842)
The Wing-and-Wing (1842)
Ned Myers (1843)
Afloat and Ashore (1844)
Miles Wallingford: Sequel to Afloat and Ashore (1844)
Satanstoe (1845)
The Chainbearer (1845)
Ravensnest, Or, the Redskins (1846)
The Redskins (1846)
The Crater (1847)
The Oak Opennings (1848)
The Ways of the Hour (1850)
Wyandotté (1852)
Short story collections in order
Tales for Fifteen (1823)
The Pilot (1823)
Non-fiction in order
The Travelling Bachelor (1828)
Letter to Gen. Lafayette (1831)
A Letter to His Countrymen (1834)
Recollections of Europe (1837)
Excursions in Italy (1838)
The American Democrat (1838)
The History of the Navy of the United States of America: Abridged in One Volume (1839)
The Battle of Lake Erie (1843)
Film and TV adaptations
- Leather Stocking (1909)Film · from The Last of the Mohicans
- The Last of the Mohicans (1920)Film · from The Last of the Mohicans
- The Last of the Mohicans (1936)Film · from The Last of the Mohicans
- The Last of the Mohicans (1992)Film · from The Last of the Mohicans
- The Pathfinder (1952)Film · from The Pathfinder
- The Pathfinder (1987)Film · from The Pathfinder
- The Pathfinder (1996)TV · from The Pathfinder
- The Deerslayer and Chingachgook (1920)Film · from The Deerslayer
- The Deerslayer (1957)Film · from The Deerslayer
- Chingachgook: The Great Snake (1967)Film · from The Deerslayer
- The Deerslayer (1990)Film · from The Deerslayer
Free to read
All free classics
About James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper was an American writer of the first half of the 19th century, whose historical romances depicting colonial and indigenous characters from the 17th to the 19th centuries brought him fame and fortune. He lived much of his boyhood and his last 15 years in Cooperstown, New York, which was founded by his father William Cooper on property that he owned. Cooper became a member of the Episcopal Church shortly before his death, and contributed generously to it. He attended Yale University for three years, where he was a member of the Linonian Society.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
James Fenimore Cooper FAQ
- How many books has James Fenimore Cooper written?
- James Fenimore Cooper published 33 novels, 2 short story collections, 9 non-fiction books and 1 children's book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read James Fenimore Cooper's books in?
- Read each series in its own order: start Leatherstocking Tales with The Pioneers. The other books stand alone and can be read in any order.
- What is James Fenimore Cooper's last book?
- Wyandotté (1852).
- What is James Fenimore Cooper's most famous book?
- The Last of the Mohicans (1824) is James Fenimore Cooper's most widely read book.
- Are James Fenimore Cooper's books connected?
- 5 books belong to 1 series (Leatherstocking Tales); the other 40 books stand alone.
- Which James Fenimore Cooper books have been adapted?
- 3 books have been adapted for film or TV, including The Last of the Mohicans (as Leather Stocking, film, 1909), The Pathfinder (film, 1952) and The Deerslayer (as The Deerslayer and Chingachgook, film, 1920).
- Can I read James Fenimore Cooper's books for free?
- Yes. 38 books by James Fenimore Cooper are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
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Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.