Local color is a type of writing that was popular in the late 19th century, particularly among authors in the U. S. South. This style relied heavily on using words, phrases, and slang that were native to the particular region the story took place in.
A well-known local color author was Mark Twain with his books Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Bret Harte shares the credit with creating and popularizing this style of writing, beginning with his 1865 story, The Luck of Roaring Camp. The less-known authors who incorporated local color in their works include: James Lane Allen, George Washington Cable, Kate Chopin, and Mary Noailles Murfree.
Failed attempts to use local color correctly have resulted in considerable criticism for some authors.
The term has come to mean any device which implies a specific locus, whether it be geographical or temporal. Widely used in the theatre and especially on television, local color is often used derisively when a device becomes a cliché. In this sense, local color can be found in Shakespeare.
