Bret Harte

Bret Harte
Bret Harte in 1872
Born
Francis Brett Hart

(1836-08-25)August 25, 1836
DiedMay 5, 1902(1902-05-05) (aged 65)
Camberley, England
OccupationAuthor
GenreFiction, poetry
SpouseAnna Griswold (m. ca. 1862–1902; his death)
Children4
Signature

Francis Brett Hart (August 25, 1836 – May 5, 1902), known as Bret Harte (/hɑːrt/ HART), was an American short story writer and poet best remembered for short fiction featuring miners, gamblers, and other romantic figures of the California Gold Rush. In a career spanning more than four decades, he also wrote poetry, plays, lectures, book reviews, editorials, and magazine sketches.

Harte moved from California to the eastern U.S. and later to Europe. He incorporated new subjects and characters into his stories, but his Gold Rush tales have been those most often reprinted, adapted, and admired.