Sketches of the Sixties

By John Howell, Mark Twain, Bret Harte

"Sketches of the Sixties" is a remarkable collection of early literary contributions by two of the most influential voices in American history, Mark Twain and Bret Harte. This volume preserves a variety of sketches, stories, and articles written during the 1860s, a transformative decade for both the authors and the American West. Set against the backdrop of a burgeoning San Francisco, these works capture the unique atmosphere of a city and a region caught between the wild energy of the Gold Rush and the maturing cultural landscape of the Pacific Coast.

The collection showcases the wit, satire, and descriptive power that would eventually define the careers of Twain and Harte. Through their journalistic endeavors and short fiction, readers gain insight into the social customs, local personalities, and evolving vernacular of the mid-nineteenth century. "Sketches of the Sixties" serves as a vital primary source for those interested in the development of the American literary tradition and the historical identity of California. It offers a vivid portrait of the frontier spirit as seen through the eyes of its most astute observers, highlighting the humor and humanity of a pivotal era in American letters.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025991001
• ISBN13: 9781025991009
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 262 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 9.2"