James Fenimore Cooper

The Crater: Vulcan's Peak James Fenimore Cooper

"The Crater" (originally published in 1847) is one of the first castaway books after Robinson Crusoe, and was the basis for Jules Verne"s "The Mysterious Island." It's also an early book about a utopia.

This book is one of Cooper's last works, and one of his most impressive. A wealth of scientific and technological information is displayed in both the maritime exploits of the earlier portion and the construction of the colony in the second half of the book, and is impressive evidence of Cooper's mastery of nineteenth century discoveries. Iin his novels of social criticism, such as "The Crater," Cooper created memorable characters and events that bear witness to his perceptive intellect and his observing eye.