Books by Bel Kaufman

A collection of witty and incisive articles by one of the twentieth century''s most remarkable literary voices Here and there, now and then, an article by Bel Kaufman, bestselling author of Up the Down Staircase, would appear in a newspaper or magazine. In these magazine articles, Kaufman wrote about subjects of the day and shared interesting or amusing experiences, always with keen observations from her long life. She reminisced about her early childhood in Odessa, addressed an open letter to Baby Boomers on the subject of aging, and pondered the loss of civility in modern culture. Now, for the first time, Kaufman selects her favorite essays from several decades--dating back to 1967--and places them side-by-side in this funny, irreverent, and wonderfully entertaining collection.

A new collection of short stories from the bestselling author of Up the Down Staircase La Tigresse and Other Short Stories collects Bel Kaufman''s short stories together for the first time—and introduces eight stories never before published. In the title piece, first published in Esquire in 1948, an aging femme fatale finds herself finally understanding what it means to truly love someone when she meets—and has a short affair with—a plain, balding Frenchman who affectionately calls her “la tigresse.” In her story “From a Teacher''s Wastebasket,”Kaufman reveals the origins of her bestselling novel Up the Down Staircase. In “Varya,” we enjoy the story of a free-spirited, determinedly optimistic Russian immigrant who wins over anyone who crosses her path. In her deft, perceptive stories, Kaufman embraces the importance of joy and of living life to the fullest.

Chronicles the goings-on in a large metropolitan high school, detailing the experiences of an idealistic first-year teacher who is plagued by difficulties arising from an overwhelming bureaucracy, inadequate facilities, and some unforgettable students

In the wake of a difficult divorce, a woman seeks solace by transforming her life--and her heartbreak--into fiction.

Chronicles the goings-on in a large metropolitan high school, detailing the experiences of an idealistic first-year teacher who is plagued by difficulties arising from an overwhelming bureauracy, inadequate facilities, and some unforgettable students.