When the gambler, John Oakhurst, senses that he may have outstayed his welcome in the mining camp of Poker Flat, he sets off to find pastures new.
Accompanied by the local drunk, Uncle Billy, and two prostitutes, he makes his way towards Sandy Bar. However, when things do not go according to plan, and the weather turns, Oakhurst must look deep inside himself to work out what to do.
A gritty tale, riddled with tragedy and romance, âThe Outcasts of Poker Flatâ does not spare the horses when it comes to depicting the difficulties faced by ordinary folk in the Old West.
Born in New York, Bret Harte (1836 â 1902) was a prolific poet, author, and journalist. The son of one of the founders of the New York Stock Exchange, Harteâs education was erratic, and he left school at the age of 13.
Four years later, he moved to California, trying out a number of jobs, including working as a miner and a journalist. After an unsuccessful stint as a stagecoach guard, he became a schoolteacher.
Later, he was hired as an editor for âThe Golden Eraâ magazine. His piece on the Wiyot Massacre resulted in death threats, and Harte was forced to flee to San Francisco. There, he became a journalist for âThe Atlantic Monthlyâ and was instrumental in founding âThe Californianâ, and âThe Overland Monthlyâ. The latter was to publish one of his most well-known stories, âThe Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Sketchesâ.
During his lifetime, Harte published more than 30 books.