Project Gutenberg 2004-05-01 Public domain in the USA. 257 Cooper, James Fenimore 1789 1851 Morgan, Jane Cooper, Fenimore Cooper, J. Fenimore (James Fenimore) The Water-Witch; Or, the Skimmer of the Seas: A Tale Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Water-Witch Produced by Distributed Proofreaders "The Water-Witch; Or, the Skimmer of the Seas: A Tale" by James Fenimore Cooper is a historical novel written in the mid-19th century. The narrative is set against the backdrop of early colonial Americana and explores themes of piracy, moral ambiguity, and the attributes of civilization. The story introduces a range of characters, including the astute Alderman Van Beverout, his niece Alida, and a mysterious mariner whose arrival disrupts their acquaintance with the world of seafaring and adventure. The opening of the novel establishes a vivid setting around the thriving New York harbor and its surroundings in the early 18th century. Through detailed exposition, Cooper provides context for the interplay of European influence and native tradition, alongside the socio-political dynamics of the time. The narrative commences with the Alderman departing his home, accompanied by his slaves, and engages in witty conversation that reveals his character and anxieties over the burgeoning city. The interactions set the stage for the conflicts and connections that will unfold as the Alderman, Alida, and others encounter the enigmatic "Skimmer of the Seas," which foreshadows the adventure and moral complexity that lies ahead. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 65.0 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en Sea stories PS Text Category: Historical Novels Category: Adventure Category: Novels Category: American Literature 973899 2025-08-05T15:34:24.357650 text/html 980641 2024-10-28T19:32:38 text/html 563448 2025-08-05T15:34:32.918131 application/epub+zip 564777 2025-08-05T15:34:25.279127 application/epub+zip 490856 2025-08-05T15:34:24.832644 application/epub+zip 786951 2025-08-05T15:34:39.778063 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 754578 2025-08-05T15:34:32.520070 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 682006 2022-09-06T20:47:22.139072 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 940105 2025-08-05T15:34:23.605627 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 920345 2024-10-28T19:32:38 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 16888 2025-08-05T15:34:39.917104 application/rdf+xml 16224 2025-08-05T15:34:24.931620 image/jpeg 2358 2025-08-05T15:34:24.882621 image/jpeg 730834 2025-08-05T15:34:24.441655 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia