"Sketches of California" is a collection of short stories by the American writer Bret Hart. The author talks about life in the west during the Gold Rush. In each story, you can feel the atmosphere of wild nature, boundless spaces and emotions of primary sources. The heroes of Hart's stories are ordinary people who experience joy and sorrow, love and loss, and the search for happiness amid unpredictable trials. The author skillfully reveals the psychology of the characters, shows how ordinary life circumstances can dramatically change a person's destiny. "California Sketches" is not only a literary embodiment of a historical period, but also an opening for the reader to a world where heroes necessarily find their way in difficult conditions.