Selected Stories of Bret Harte

"Selected Stories of Bret Harte" by Bret Harte is a compilation of short stories that takes place in the American West, where questions of right and wrong, the quirks of people, and the funny side of tough times come to light, alongside characters that represent the wild and varied life on the frontier. The collection starts off by drawing readers into Harte's storytelling through "The Luck of Roaring Camp," which tells of a mining camp's reaction to a newborn, their first child, named Tommy Luck, after what they believe is their settlement's stroke of good fortune. This story shows the contrast between the men's tough, often unlawful way of life and their soft spot for the orphaned child; the men's efforts to improve the quality of life for the boy transforms not only him, but the men dwelling in the camp itself. The story uses clear depictions of personality and emotion, balanced with subtle humor, to exhibit the ways this group of initially hardened men analyze their lives and actions.