Condensed Novels: New Burlesques

In «Condensed Novels: New Burlesques,» Bret Harte offers a razor-sharp satirical take on the conventions of popular literature in the 19th century. This collection parodies the excesses of romantic and adventure narratives, utilizing humor, irony, and a concise literary style that distills complex plots into comically abbreviated versions. Each piece reflects Harte's keen insight into the cultural zeitgeist of his era, where the rapid proliferation of serialized novels often oversimplified character development and thematic depth. By artfully compressing these tropes into burlesque forms, Harte invites readers to... Edasi