Bret Harte was an American author and POET who lived in the 19th century. He is best known for his short stories and poetry about the American West, particularly the gold rush era. His most famous works include 'The Luck of Roaring Camp' and 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat'. He also wrote several novels, including 'The Heathen Chinee' and 'Gabriel Conroy'. He was a major influence on the development of the Western genre in literature.