New Releases by Betty Smith

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."

"The Complete Novels of Betty Smith: Illustrated" is a comprehensive anthology showcasing the literary brilliance of Betty Smith, featuring her most celebrated works. This collection includes "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," "Tomorrow Will Be Better," "Maggie-Now," and "Joy in the Morning," each accompanied by illustrations that enrich the reader''s experience. In "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," Smith eloquently captures the struggles and aspirations of a young girl coming of age in early 20th-century Brooklyn. The novel explores themes of resilience, family, and the pursuit of dreams against the backdrop of challenging urban life. "Tomorrow Will Be Better" delves into the complexities of marriage and societal expectations as it follows the lives of two young lovers, providing a poignant exploration of hope and renewal. "Maggie-Now" takes readers on a journey through the decades, following the life of Maggie-Now as she navigates love, work, and the changing landscape of the 20th century. "Joy in the Morning" offers a portrayal of a young couple facing the challenges of marriage, parenthood, and forging a future together against the backdrop of the Great Depression. The addition of illustrations enhances the visual aspect of these timeless tales, bringing to life the characters and settings that have made Betty Smith''s novels enduring classics. This collection provides readers with a comprehensive and visually enriched exploration of Smith''s literary legacy, offering a captivating journey through the joys and struggles of the human experience. Contents: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Tomorrow Will Be Better Maggie-Now Joy in the Morning

UNA DE LAS MEJORES NOVELAS NORTEAMERICANAS DEL SIGLO XX. «Un libro bellísimo de una novelista maravillosa y olvidada.» Paul Auster «Un libro conmovedor y honesto, que llega al corazón de la vida [...]. Un árbol crece en Brooklyn es una lectura que nadie debería perderse.» The New York Times Corren los años veinte del siglo pasado y descubrimos a la pequeña Francie Nolan leyendo sentada en la escalera antiincendios de su casa, a la sombra de un árbol que solo crece en los barrios más pobres de las grandes ciudades. Poco a poco, la mirada se aleja de la chiquilla para abarcar a la estrafalaria familia Nolan, que malvive en un barrio de Brooklyn. Conoceremos así a sus padres, a su hermano y a la entrañable tía Sissy, que usa a los hombres para aplacar sus instintos maternales. Francie crece rodeada de los libros que tanto le gustan y pronto empieza a preguntar y a pedirle a la vida algo más que un triste acomodo en la mediocridad. De esas hermosas y tercas ganas de saber nace Un árbol crece en Brooklyn, una novela donde cualquier detalle de la vida doméstica revela un mundo hecho de apuestas y deseos, donde los personajes son tan próximos que nos duelen sus dolores y donde el sueño americano cobra por fin peso y color. Críticas: «Uno de los libros del siglo.» Biblioteca Pública de Nueva York «Una de las novelas norteamericanas más queridas [...]. Es la novela dickensiana de Nueva York que no sabíamos que teníamos.» The New York Times « Un árbol crece en Brooklyn merece ser considerada como una de las mejores novelas norteamericanas.» The New Yorker «Betty Smith es una narradora nata.» USA Today «Una historia que irradia vida.» Daily Telegraph

Après le très culte Lys de Brooklyn, le retour de Betty Smith avec une chronique à la fois lumineuse et délicate de la première année d''un jeune couple dans une petite ville du Midwest des années 1920. Attendrissante, drôle, une œuvre tout en finesse qui illustre brillamment les joies de l''amour mais aussi les premiers chagrins face à une réalité parfois sans pitié ; la vie à deux, pour le pire comme pour le meilleur. Carl et Annie étaient assis tout près l''un de l''autre, sur la banquette, la main dans la main ; ils attendaient d''être mariés. De temps à autre se faisait entendre un léger sifflement, quand Carl jetait dans le crachoir une cigarette à moitié consumée. Chaque fois, Annie serrait la main de Carl et disait : " Nerveux ? "" Chaque fois il lui rendait la pression de sa main et répondait : " Non. Et toi ? " Invariablement elle répliquait : " Un peu. " Et de nouveau leurs mains resserraient leur étreinte. Publiée aux États-Unis en 1963 et chez Stock en 1964, cette douceur Vintage est à redécouvrir au plus vite !

An old man on his deathbed tells his true life story to his children and grandchildren who have gathered around him. The dying man was James Bell Stephenson. He was born in the wilds of Florida in 1820 and made the long journey to Texas in 1826 to become a member of Stephen F. Austin''s Colony. At sixteen, he joined the Texas army, becoming one of its earliest Texas Rangers. He witnessed Santa Anna''s capture at San Jacinto. At age18 Stephenson was pinned down in a ravine with a handful of Texas Rangers who were surrounded by a horde of angry Comanche Indians. As Captain of the 20th Texas Infantry during the Civil War, he defended the port of Galveston and help provide supplies to the Confederate army. Stephenson was a founding father of Waller County, Texas and one of its first commissioners. The life he led was truly inspirational and definitely worthy of a place in Texas history.

Betty Smith, the beloved author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, weaves a riveting modern myth out of the experiences of her own life in this rediscovered classic. In Brooklyn''s unforgiving urban jungle, Maggie Moore is torn between answering her own needs and catering to the desirous men who dominate her life. Confronted by her quarrelsome Irish immigrant father, the feckless lover who may become her husband, and others, Maggie must learn to navigate a cycle of loss, separation, and hope as she forges her own path toward happiness. With characteristic warmth, compelling insight, and easy, conversational prose, Betty Smith''s Maggie-Now poignantly illuminates one woman''s struggles and successes as she grapples with timeless questions of desire, duty, self-sacrifice, and the quest for fulfillment. Maggie-Now is an unforgettable masterpiece from one of the twentieth century''s greatest talents.

Betty T. Smith thought that she had received her "Happy Ending" when her marriage was miraculously restored -- but God had much more in store for her life!

A timeless classic is reborn! From Betty Smith—author of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, one of the most beloved novels of the past century—comes an unsentimental yet radiant and powerfully uplifting tale of young hearts and marriage. In 1927, in Brooklyn, New York, Carl Brown and Annie McGairy meet and fall in love. Though only eighteen, Annie travels alone halfway across the country to the Midwestern university where Carl is studying law—and there they marry. But their first year together is much more difficult than they anticipated, in a faraway place with little money and few friends. With hardship and poverty weighing heavily upon them, Annie and Carl come to realize that their greatest sources of strength, loyalty and love, will help them make it through.

Around the World in Seventy Years is a detailed narrative of the exciting ministry experiences that have followed author Betty Smith''s prayer of availability to God. Since 1985, she has taken sixteen mission trips to places as close as New York City and Mexico and as far away as China and Siberia. As a channel for the flow of God''s love, she has received beauty for ashes, according to the promise of Isaiah 61: 3.

Dried Flowers for All Seasons shows how to create dried-flower arrangements with the color, appeal, and just-picked look of fresh flowers. What''s unique about this book is that it includes flowers not usually associated with dried arrangements -- including spring flowers such as tulips and daffodils. The book is arranged by season and there are several types of arrangements for each, including wreaths, sprays, and traditional bouquets. -- Features in-depth information on drying techniques. -- Includes more than 300 color photos. -- A glossary lists more than 60 flowers suitable for drying. -- Step -by-step instructions show how to arrange flowers.

Ce roman publié en 1943, relayé par le cinéma deux ans plus tard, est devenu, depuis lors, un best-seller de qualité. Tant par le ton autobiographique qui s''y révèle, avec la narration d''une enfance, d''une adolescence que situe et qualifie le titre, que par l''excellente reconstitution d''une certaine Amérique avant la Première guerre mondiale, ce récit est exemplaire de la formule mélodramatique au meilleur sens de ce terme.

The story of the Nolan family, including daughter Francie, and life in the Williamsburg slums of Brooklyn during the early part of the 20th century.