Criticism of fiction is a longstanding practice that can bolster an author’s career or ruin it, even if the author has been long dead and buried. In the case of Fenimore Cooper, much has been written about his prose, including scathing condemnation of his glorification of American Indians as well as sincere appreciation for his beautiful romantic notions of the American way of life. In the case of “Fenimore Cooper’s Literary Offenses” by Mark Twain, the noted author and humorist is successful in his biting sarcasm and detailed criticism of Cooper for humor’s sake, but his Continue reading...