Plain Language from Truthful James first appeared in the September 1870 issue of Harte's own journal, the Overland Monthly. More commonly known "The Heathen Chinee", it was a satiric parody of anti-Chinese sentiment that unfortunately served to reinforce the existing racism. References: BAL 7253.

Octavo, 152 pages. In Very Good condition. Bound in full crushed black morocco, with gilt tooling and two red morocco labels to spine. Covers bordered in single gilt rule surrounding gilt scrollwork and floral bouquet corner-pieces. The front board has a central inlay of two fanned "Jack-of-Hearts" playing cards bordered in gilt, with original cloth covers and spine bound in at end. Bret Harte signature appears on stiff card mounted to first blank page. Text block shows scattered mild foxing that is heaviest to preliminaries, and some crinkling to paper to which Harte signature is mounted. First Issue, with the publisher's monogram on title-page and foot of spine, and the error "S.T.K." for "T.S.K." in the caption on page 136. Marbled endpapers. CX Consignment. Shelved in Case 3