Bret Harte

Bret Harte was a master of short fiction set during the California Gold Rush, capturing romantic figures like miners and gamblers with his writing. While his interests broadened to encompass new subjects and locales throughout his career, his Gold Rush tales remain his most reprinted, adapted, and admired works. Harte's style is characterized by vivid descriptions and an ability to portray complex characters within rugged settings. His literary significance lies in his compelling narratives that both romanticized and realistically depicted a pivotal era in American history.