Betty Smith

Betty Smith is one of the most beloved American authors of the 20th century, best known for her classic novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Smith was born Annette Cordelia in 1892 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to German immigrant parents. She was the youngest of four children and quickly developed a love of reading.

Smith moved with her family to Brooklyn, New York when she was sixteen, and attended high school there. She used her experience in Brooklyn to inspire her novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. She wrote the novel over the course of three years, with the first draft completed in 1943. It was finally published in 1945 and quickly became a bestseller.

The novel follows the story of a young girl, Francie Nolan, who lives in Brooklyn with her parents and her brother. The story follows the struggles and joys of their family as they struggle to make ends meet. Smith wrote the novel partly based on her own childhood in Brooklyn, as well as on the stories of family and friends. She captured the unique culture and spirit of the city through her vivid descriptions.

Smith’s writing style is known for its realism and its frankness. She also often employs a vernacular of the area, allowing the reader to gain an insight into the speech patterns and expressions of the people of Brooklyn, creating an authentic setting. Smith’s writing also offers a unique insight on poverty and the barriers of race and class at the turn of the century.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn went on to become a classic, much beloved by readers all over the world. In 2006 it was added to the prestigious list of the Radcliffe Publishing Course's top 100 novels of the 20th Century.

Betty Smith continued to write throughout her life, including a collection of short stories, a children’s book, and several plays which were produced on Broadway. She also wrote her autobiography, Joy in the Morning in 1965.

Betty Smith died in 1972 but she left a lasting legacy that has, and continues to touch readers around the world. Her books, particularly her debut novel, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn remain popular to this day. Her story of beautiful, resilient Francie Nolan and her family speaks about the hopes, dreams, and struggles of a young girl, and is an inspiring testament to faith and hard work.