The Bohemians

Set in 1860s San Francisco, The Bohemians chronicles the influential lives of a group of emerging Western writers, including a young Mark Twain, literary luminary Bret Harte, gay poet Charles Warren Stoddard, and the troubled Ina Coolbrith. Against the backdrop of a nation divided by the Civil War and the fading Gold Rush, these Bohemians draw inspiration from the frontier's dark humor and vibrant storytelling, shaping a new American literary identity. Ben Tarnoff's engaging narrative showcases their impact on literature while capturing a pivotal moment of cultural revolution in the West.