The Headsman: A Tale (1855)

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Kessinger Publishing, 2009 - 324 Seiten
The Headsman: A Tale is a historical fiction novel written by American author J. Fenimore Cooper and first published in 1855. The story is set in the 16th century and follows the life of a Swiss mercenary named Balthazar, who becomes the headsman of the city of Bern. The headsman is responsible for carrying out executions, and Balthazar struggles with the moral implications of his job. As the story progresses, Balthazar falls in love with a woman named Adelheid, but their relationship is complicated by their social status and the fact that Adelheid is engaged to another man. Meanwhile, political tensions rise in the city as the Swiss struggle for independence from the Habsburg Empire. The novel explores themes of love, duty, and morality, as Balthazar grapples with his role as the headsman and his desire for a better life. Cooper also incorporates historical events and figures into the story, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative. Overall, The Headsman: A Tale is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that delves into complex moral and political issues while also providing a captivating historical setting.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

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Autoren-Profil (2009)

James Fenimore Cooper, acclaimed as one of the first American novelists, was born in Burlington, N.J., on September 15, 1789. When he was one year old, his family moved to Cooperstown, N.Y., which was founded by his father. Cooper attended various grammar schools in Burlington, Cooperstown, and Albany, and entered Yale University in 1803 at the age of 13. In 1806, Cooper was expelled from Yale for pushing a rag with gunpowder under a classmate's door, causing it to explode. He then spent some time as a merchant seaman and served as a midshipman in the U.S. Navy from 1808-1811. In 1811, Cooper married Susan De Lancey, and lived the life of a country gentleman until one day in 1820. Cooper and his wife were reading a book together. When Cooper told Susan that he could write a better book than the one they were reading, she challenged him to do so. Thus began his career as an author, with Precaution (first published anonymously). Cooper is known for writing more than 50 works under his own name, Jane Morgan, and Anonymous. His works included fiction, nonfiction, history, and travel sketches. He gained insight for his travel works while the Cooper family lived in Europe from 1826 to 1833. Cooper is best known for the novel The Last of The Mohicans, which has been made into several motion picture adaptations, the most recent starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Hawkeye. The Last of the Mohicans is part of The Leatherstocking Tales, which includes the other novels, The Pioneers, The Deerslayer, and The Pathfinder. Hawkeye, whose given name is Nathaniel Bumpo, is a recurring character in the series which accurately chronicles early American pioneering life and events during the French and Indian War. In 1851, Cooper developed a liver condition, dying on September 14th of that year, just one day before his 62nd birthday.

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