The Luck of Roaring Camp and Other Tales
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4.3 • 6 Ratings
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Publisher Description
The story takes place in a small struggling mining town located in the foothills of the California mountains at the time of the gold rush. The camp is suffering from a long string of bad luck. With only one woman in their midst, it seems as though the miners have no future. However, the tide turns when a small boy is born. "Thomas Luck" is the first newborn the camp has seen in ages; things are looking up. The miners become cheerful, foliage begins to grow, there's talk of building a hotel to attract outsiders. Unfortunately, the hope is wiped out by the sudden death of Luck in a flood. Water brought gold to the gulches, giving miners their first glimmer of hope. And water takes away what seems their last glimmer.
Customer Reviews
Unique read!
After seeing the character of the author on the reality-based show, "Death Valley Days," I was delighted to find this classic work in the iBooks store. There is something here for about almost anyone. Msny of his stories derive from real life, based on his experiences and observations such as when he lived and worked in a mining camp. The witty forays into a story author's mind were unique and fascinating. He has a clever sense of humor similar to that of Samuel Clemns (Mark Twain), and in fact, Harte once hired Twain to do a column! If you like historical. local writing that has stood the test of time, this book is for you. My favorite was "The Dweller of the Threshhold," about a hard-working, self-educasted shoe-shining child who was wiser than many adults, reminding me of Jesus' own words about wisdom often being found among the children. Though I may not agree with some of Harte's moral precepts, I will admit that he was a naturally gifted writer who honed his craff well. Quite an interesting collection!