The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757 is one of the most widely read novels throughout the world. It has been made into no fewer than five motion pictures, three television series, a radio series, comic books, and an opera. It was written by James Fenimore Cooper in 1825, and first published in January 1826. The action takes place during the French and Indian War in 1757, as France and Great Britain battled for control of the American colonies. The French were outnumbered by the British and allied themselves with Native American tribes. Cooper was inspired to write the book after vacationing in the Catskills and his detailed descriptions of places, characters, and events are a hallmark of the book. It was his most popular work, and has influenced the way many view both Native Americans and American history in general.