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Bret Harte manuscript signed poem "Plain Language from Truthful James"

 File — Box: BW 27, Folder: 1

Scope and Contents

Parody on Algernon Charles Swinburne's poem "Atalanta in Calydon (1865). It was first published in the September, 1870 issue of the Overland Monthly.

The connecton to Swinburne was quickly lost as the poem became known as "The Heathen Chinee" and was reprinted widely throughout the United States. The sixth stanza concerns the discovery that the heathen Chinee and Nye are both cheating at a card game. Harte in his fair copy of a single stanza, has changed...
one revealing word: "Chinee" has been changed to "B. J."

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Dates

  • Creation: 1862-1913

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research use.

Extent

From the Collection: .06 Cubic Feet (Two letter sized folders )

Language of Materials

English

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