Her Letter, His Answer & Her Last Letter

"Her Letter, His Answer & Her Last Letter" by Bret Harte is a collection of poetry written in the late 19th century. This book features a delightful interplay of letters between two characters, reflecting on themes of love, social status, and nostalgia. Harte’s work captures the essence of life in the American West during a period of transition, encapsulating the charm and challenges faced by individuals navigating both fortune and affection. The book unfolds through three letters exchanged between the protagonists, where the first letter expresses a young woman's musings about her newfound wealth and status compared to her humble beginnings in Poverty Flat. The boy, Joseph, responds with a mix of humor and earnestness, fondly recalling their shared past even as he grapples with illness and the specter of his unrequited love. In the last letter, the woman reveals her frustration over Joseph's silence and her feelings of betrayal upon learning of his financial success without prior communication. Ultimately, the letters weave a poignant narrative about love, changes in social circumstances, and the enduring connection that transcends material wealth. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Bret Harte was an American short story writer and poet best remembered for short fiction featuring miners, gamblers, and other romantic figures of the California Gold Rush. In a career spanning more than four decades, he also wrote poetry, plays, lectures, book reviews, editorials, and magazine sketches.