The Headsman: The Abbaye des Vignerons
The Headsman: The Abbaye des Vignerons is a 1833 novel by James Fenimore Cooper set in Switzerland.[1] The novel was inspired by one of Cooper's trips during his European travels in 1832.[2] The novel is one of three of Cooper's "European" novels, following The Bravo and The Heidenmauer, all of which use the European setting to deal with socio-political contrast with American institutions.[3]
Themes
The novel explores a number of themes related to how society structures itself, including justice, authority, friendship, parental relationships, love and marriage.[4][5]
Critical reception
The novel is typically described for its socio-political commentary, but critics have argued the importance of treating the novel as part of Cooper's deliberate artistry.[4][6] Constance Ayers Denne describes this artistry as largerly reflected in the novel's powerful structure and successful thematic treatment.[4] Many critics who have read the novel for socio-political themes, were unsatisfied with its ending.[4] Critic Thomas Palfrey argues that the novel has structural and thematic simularities to Balzac's works, such as Jesus Christ in Flanders.[7]
References
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External links
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- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/> The Headsman: The Abbaye des Vignerons at Project Gutenberg
