Bret Harte
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Major Issues Major IssuesBret Harte is the best known fictional chronicler of the mid-19th century Western frontier. His stories are set in boomtowns, mining fields, and uncivilized wilderness. They are populated by the rough, but big hearted characters who go there to find their fortune—and/or misfortune. Harte is credited with capturing authentic regional details, including local idiom, and is considered a founder and major influence on the "Western" genre. Some critics, however, question the quality of Harte’s writing. They argue that he creates colourful, memorable characters, but weak, melodramatic plots. Others point out that narrative logic and convincing character motivation are often sacrificed to heavy-handed moralizing and sentimentality in Harte’s fiction. Author LinksPopularity,
Poetry and Performance
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