Poems by Bret Harte (1836 - 1902)

Francis Bret Harte is probably best known for his descriptions of pioneering life in California. He was born in Albany, New York and moved to California in 1854. He worked at a number of professions including miner and teacher. He also tried journalism and was run out of Eureka California for printing a factual report of a massacre of Indians. in 1868 he became the founding editor of the Overland Monthly. In the early 1870s he may well have been the highest paid, most-read author of the time. His poularity waned, however and in 1877 he became a commercial agent in Prussia. He was later American Consul in Glasgow, Scotland. He died in London.