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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

ClassicsHistorical Fiction
Pages
560
Published
1943
Language
English

Synopsis

Follow Francie Nolan's journey through the impoverished streets of Williamsburg at the turn of the 20th century. This classic novel explores the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring strength of family bonds amidst hardship and struggle. Experience the joys and sorrows of a young girl growing up in a vibrant, yet challenging, urban landscape.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

EmotionalReflectiveHopefulMelancholic
Coming of AgeFound FamilySurvival

Genres

Classics Historical Fiction Literary Fiction

About the author

B
Betty Smith

Born: Elisabeth Lillian Wehner, December 15, 1896, Brooklyn, New York, United States Died: January 17, 1972, Shelton, Connecticut, United States In her lifetime, Betty Smith penned and published a total of 4 best selling 20th Century novels ... ''A Tree Grows in Brooklyn'' (1943), ''Tomorrow Will Be Better'' (1947), ''Maggie-Now'' (1958), and ''Joy in the Morning'' (1963). Fairly soon after the publication of both ''A Tree Grows in Brooklyn'' & ''Joy in the Morning,'' they were then ada...

Characters

Francie NolanProtagonist
Katie NolanSupporting
Neeley NolanSupporting
Sissy RommelySupporting
All characters in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Frequently asked questions

  • Is A Tree Grows in Brooklyn based on a true story?

    Yes, in large part. Betty Smith drew heavily on her own childhood growing up poor in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in the early 1900s, and the novel is widely described as semi-autobiographical. Smith began the material as a nonfiction piece before reworking it into a novel for a 1943 Harper & Brothers writing contest.

  • Did A Tree Grows in Brooklyn win the Pulitzer Prize?

    No. It's a common misconception, but the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel was not awarded at all in 1944, the year after the book's publication, and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn was not a recipient of any major literary prize. Its reputation rests on its sales (nearly 3 million copies in its first two years) and its enduring popularity rather than an award.

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