Clarence
1895
Published in 1895, 'Clarence' by Bret Harte is a novel set against the backdrop of antebellum America. It follows Clarence Brant, the wealthy president of the Robles Land Company, who faces personal turmoil just a year into his marriage to a Southern sympathizer. As political tensions rise, Clarence grapples with feelings of loneliness and betrayal, leading to conflicts that intertwine his personal life with the national strife of the Civil War. The novel explores themes of loyalty, love, and duty amidst a fractured nation.
