ence, and even for malignity, surpassed
anything in the history of American literature, if not in the history of
literature itself. Nor did the effect of this disappear with his life.
The misrepresentations and calumnies, which were then set in motion,
have not ceased to operate even at this day. Full as marked, still, was
the influence which the controversies, in which he was engaged, had upon
his literary reputation. A direct result of them at the time was not
only to impair the estimation in which his previous writings had been
held, but to cause the later productions of his pen to be treated with
systematic injustice. Both in England and America the effect of this
hostile criticism has not yet died away.

On the other hand, it was no one-sided contest that took place. (p. 079)
If Cooper was attacked, he, in turn, did his part in attacking. No man
has ever criticised his own country more unsparingly, and in some
instances more unjustly, than did he, who, in foreign lands, had been
its stoutest and most pronounced defender. Nor, in the controversies
that followed his return from Europe, did one side conduct itself with
perfect righteousness, and the other with deliberate villainy. Had the
parties but seen fit to act in this manner, the duties of a biographer
would have been sensibly lightened. A fair and dispassionate account of
the circumstances that led to the unpopularity which clouded, though it
could hardly be said to darken, Cooper's later life, demands a full and
careful examination of many facts which, in some instances, seem to have
no relation to the subject. Especially is a knowledge of the European
estimate of America during the period that the novelist resided abroad a
matter of first importance. But even of as great importance is a
knowledge of certain traits of his character and of certain sentiments
which he strongly felt, and of certain beliefs which he earnestly held.
To bring out these points clearly, it is necessary for a while to arrest
the progress of the narrative.

It is to be remarked at the outset that the first impression which Cooper
made upon strangers was rarely in his favor. To this we have the
concurrent testimony of those who knew him slightly, and of those who
knew him well. It was due to a variety of causes. He had infinite pride,
and there was in his manner a self-assertion that often bordered, or seemed
to border, upon arrogance. His earnestness, moreover, was often mistaken
fo