The Deerslayer follows young frontiersman Natty Bumppo "Deerslayer," who has yet to kill his first man, in early eighteenth century New York. Deerslayer must partner with Hurry Harry and Tom Hutter, two men who seek to take people's scalps, a practice that Deerslayer is against, in order to resist an attack by the Iroquois who are allied with the French. When Harry and Tom are captured, Deerslayer and his best friend Chingachgook must rescue them, along with Chingachgook's bride.

Although written last, The Deerslayer is considered to be the prequel to the rest of the Leatherstocking Tales. Cooper was one of the first major American novelists to include Native American characters in his works. His treatment of this group is complex and highlights the tenuous relationship between frontier settlers and Native Americans. Cooper often gives contrasting views of Native characters to emphasize their potential for good, or conversely, their proclivity for mayhem. The story was adapted into a newspaper comic in 1949, and has since been adapted for film, radio, and television.

This case laminate collector's edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket.