Bret Harte

Bret Harte was a well-known poet and author from the United States who made significant literary achievements in the American West during the Gold Rush era. Harte moved to California in 1854, after moving to Albany, New York, on August 25, 1836, and immersed himself in the vibrant social and cultural environment of the Gold Rush. Harte started writing as an editor, journalist, and teacher. He rose to national notoriety when he took over as editor of "The Overland Monthly," a literary journal...See more

Bret Harte was a well-known poet and author from the United States who made significant literary achievements in the American West during the Gold Rush era. Harte moved to California in 1854, after moving to Albany, New York, on August 25, 1836, and immersed himself in the vibrant social and cultural environment of the Gold Rush. Harte started writing as an editor, journalist, and teacher. He rose to national notoriety when he took over as editor of "The Overland Monthly," a literary journal located in San Francisco, in 1868. His short stories-"The Luck of Roaring Camp" and "The Outcasts of Poker Flat," in particular-were widely praised for their realistic depictions of frontier life and their exploration of morality, humanity, and the effects of unexpected wealth. Harte eventually came under fire for departing from the frontier genre, even though his early writings frequently romanticized the Wild West. His impact persisted despite controversy, and he left a lasting impression on American literature. See less