Bret Harte
''A First Family of Tasajara'' is a novel written by Bret Harte, first published in 1882. The story takes place in the fictional town of Tasajara, located in the Wild West of California during the mid-19th century. The plot revolves around the lives of the first family of Tasajara, the Briones, who are a wealthy and influential family in the town. The patriarch of the family, Don Jos����� Briones, is a proud and stubborn man who is determined to maintain his family’s position of power in the community.The story begins when a young girl named Maruja, who is the daughter of Don Jos�����’s cousin, comes to stay with the Briones family. Maruja is a headstrong and independent girl who quickly becomes the center of attention for the Briones sons, Felipe and Johnny, as well as for a young lawyer named Clarence Brant. However, Maruja’s stay is cut short when she is kidnapped by a band of pirates led by a woman known as the Queen of the Pirate Isle.The rest of the novel follows the Briones family as they attempt to rescue Maruja and bring her back home. Along the way, they encounter a cast of colorful characters, including a Chinese cook, a Native American guide, and a group of gold miners. The story is filled with adventure, romance, and humor, and explores themes of family, loyalty, and the power of love.Overall, ''A First Family of Tasajara'' is an entertaining and engaging novel that offers a glimpse into the Wild West of California during the mid-19th century. Bret Harte’s vivid descriptions of the landscape and characters bring the story to life, and his skillful storytelling keeps the reader engaged from beginning to end.1891. Illustrated. Bret Harte’s witty, sometimes heart-rending tales of frontier California earned him acclaim during the 1860s as the new prophet of American letters. His books, The Luck of Roaring Camp, The Outcasts of Poker Flat and M�������liss, helped establish the foundations of western American fiction. The book begins: It blows, said Joe Wingate. As if to accent the words of the speaker a heavy gust of wind at that moment shook the long light wooden structure which served as the general store of Sidon settlement, in Contra Costa. Even after it had passed a prolonged whistle came through the keyhole, sides, and openings of the closed glass front doors, that served equally for windows, and filled the canvas ceiling which hid the roof above like a bellying sail. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
