Overview

A PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick ""One of the most cherished of American novels. . . . It is the Dickensian novel of New York that we didn't think we had."" -- New York Times In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, HarperCollins is proud to present this library of American classics drawn from our storied catalog. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is Betty's Smith's beloved novel about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the twentieth century, growing up in the slums of immigrant New York, fortified by the love of her family and her own hunger to learn. From the moment she entered the world, Francie Nolan needed to be made of stern stuff, for growing up in the Williamsburg slums of Brooklyn demanded fortitude, precocity, and strength of spirit. Often scorned by neighbors for her Irish Catholic's family's erratic and eccentric behavior--such as her father Johnny's taste for alcohol and her Aunt Sissy's habit of marrying serially without the formality of divorce--no one, least of all Francie, could say that the Nolan's life lacked drama. By turns heartbreaking and uplifting, the Nolan's daily experiences are raw with honestly and tenderly threaded with family connectedness. Betty Smith details the joys and sorrows of a humble immigrant American life, creating a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as deeply resonant moments of universal experience. Here is an American classic that ""cuts right to the heart of life,"" hails the New York Times. ""If you miss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, you will deny yourself a rich experience."" A BEAUTIFUL PACKAGE WITH FLAPS: Featuring French flaps and a unique vivid cover design, each book in the collection is published as a deluxe trade paperback that is a part of a stunning series look. HARPER COLLINS AMERICAN CLASSICS: This series includes timeless novels, poetry, children's books, and groundbreaking nonfiction that has shaped American thought, literature, and identity across generations. AMERICA'S PUBLISHER: Since its founding in 1817, no American publisher has been so entwined in the history of American letters. Our books enrich, challenge, and defined the American spirit. AMERICA 250: The HarperCollins American Classics arrive in time for America's 250th anniversary celebrations.

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9780063484184

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Reviews

""A profoundly moving novel, and an honest and true one. It cuts right to the heart of life. . . . If you miss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn you will deny yourself a rich experience."" - New York Times ""One of the books of the century."" - New York Public Library ""Betty Smith was a born storyteller."" - USA Today ""A Tree Grows in Brooklyn deserves to be thought of as one of the greatest American novels."" - The New Yorker ""One of the most cherished of American novels....It is the Dickensian novel of New York that we didn't think we had."" - New York Times ""A poignant and deeply understanding story of childhood and family relationships....[Smith's] book has light and air in it, comedy and pathos, and an underlying rhythm pulsing to the surge and flow of humanity itself. No matter what happens to the Nolans, they never lose their awareness of the sweetness and wonder of life."" - Orville Prescott, New York Times ""The quintessential New York immigrant novel, which underscored the power of education."" - Min Jin Lee, The New York Times

""A profoundly moving novel, and an honest and true one. It cuts right to the heart of life. . . . If you miss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn you will deny yourself a rich experience."" - New York Times ""One of the books of the century."" - New York Public Library ""Betty Smith was a born storyteller."" - USA Today ""A Tree Grows in Brooklyn deserves to be thought of as one of the greatest American novels."" - The New Yorker ""One of the most cherished of American novels....It is the Dickensian novel of New York that we didn't think we had."" - New York Times ""A poignant and deeply understanding story of childhood and family relationships....[Smith's] book has light and air in it, comedy and pathos, and an underlying rhythm pulsing to the surge and flow of humanity itself. No matter what happens to the Nolans, they never lose their awareness of the sweetness and wonder of life."" - Orville Prescott, New York Times ""The quintessential New York immigrant novel, which underscored the power of education."" - Min Jin Lee, The New York Times

""A poignant and deeply understanding story of childhood and family relationships....[Smith's] book has light and air in it, comedy and pathos, and an underlying rhythm pulsing to the surge and flow of humanity itself. No matter what happens to the Nolans, they never lose their awareness of the sweetness and wonder of life."" -- Orville Prescott, New York Times ""Betty Smith was a born storyteller."" -- USA Today ""One of the books of the century."" -- New York Public Library ""A profoundly moving novel, and an honest and true one. It cuts right to the heart of life. . . . If you miss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn you will deny yourself a rich experience."" -- New York Times ""A Tree Grows in Brooklyn deserves to be thought of as one of the greatest American novels."" -- The New Yorker ""One of the most cherished of American novels....It is the Dickensian novel of New York that we didn't think we had."" -- New York Times

""A poignant and deeply understanding story of childhood and family relationships....[Smith's] book has light and air in it, comedy and pathos, and an underlying rhythm pulsing to the surge and flow of humanity itself. No matter what happens to the Nolans, they never lose their awareness of the sweetness and wonder of life."" -- Orville Prescott, New York Times ""Betty Smith was a born storyteller."" -- USA Today ""A profoundly moving novel, and an honest and true one. It cuts right to the heart of life. . . . If you miss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn you will deny yourself a rich experience."" -- New York Times ""A Tree Grows in Brooklyn deserves to be thought of as one of the greatest American novels."" -- The New Yorker ""One of the most cherished of American novels....It is the Dickensian novel of New York that we didn't think we had."" -- New York Times ""The quintessential New York immigrant novel, which underscored the power of education."" -- Min Jin Lee, The New York Times

Author Information

Betty Smith (1896-1972) was a native of Brooklyn, New York. Her novels A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Tomorrow Will Be Better, Joy in the Morning, and Maggie-Now continue to capture the hearts and imaginations of millions of readers worldwide.

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