Bret Harte, the author of Colonel Starbottle’s Client and Some Other People, might be considered the 19th century counterpart to Rod Serling, the creator of The Twilight Zone.
High Point: The final story–“The Ghosts of Stukeley Castle”–is the perfect conclusion to the book.
Low Point: A few of the stories seem to function only as filler.
Author: Bret Harte
Publication Date: 1892
Genre: Fiction – Anthology
Listen to the audio version of this review
space
Bret Harte, the author of Colonel Starbottle’s Client and Some Other People, might be considered the 19th century counterpart to Rod Serling, the creator of The Twilight Zone. Like that classic television series, this collection of Harte’s short stories ranges from the chilling to the humorous.
Beyond a few entertaining yarns, Harte brings a style indicative of his time—somewhat sophisticated and sprinkled with a vibrant vocabulary that includes words rarely used today.
While some of collection’s stories are forgettable, a few stand out:
- “Colonel Starbottle’s Client” is an engrossing story that borders on the macabre with an ending you are unlikely to anticipate.
- “The Postmistress of Laurel Run” features a particularly pleasing finish with a subtle twist for spice.
- “Out of a Pioneer’s Trunk” builds to a surprise worthy of O. Henry.
- The final story— “The Ghosts of Stukeley Castle”—will make you laugh. It’s a perfect conclusion to the book.
In the final analysis, this collection is one you can either read end to end, or dip into between longer reads. Either way, you’ll likely enjoy the time you spend with Colonel Starbottle’s Client and Some Other People.
Sources For This Book
This book was purchased at Bone-anza Barn in Glen Rose, Texas
Free eBook (Project Gutenberg): Colonel Starbottle’s Client
Free Audiobook (LibriVox): Not available
Available to Purchase: AbeBooks, Biblio, Thriftbooks
