A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Cyclopedia of Literary Places)
At a glance:
- Author: Betty Smith
- First Published: 1943
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Bildungsroman
- Time of Work: Early twentieth century
- Genres: Long fiction, Bildungsroman, Domestic realism
- Subjects: Girls, Maturation or coming of age, Family or family life, New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Sex or sexuality, Twentieth century, New York City, Courage, Education or educators, Yards or backyards, Schools or school life, Poverty or poor people, Alcoholism or alcoholics, Substance abuse, Inner cities or inner-city life, Working class, Reading, Ambition, Success or failure, Trees, Seasons
- Locales: Brooklyn, NY
Places Discussed
*Brooklyn. Borough of New York City that in the early twentieth century was filled with immigrant and second-generation Irish, Poles, Jews, and Italians. In this story, Brooklyn comprises neighborhoods of more than one social level, though poor, working people predominate. There are shabby tenements with residents whose lives are spent in sweatshops and other low- paying jobs. There are old houses owned by artisans, craftsmen, and storekeepers, many of whom are second- and third-generation Americans. Most of the schools are overcrowded and dismal, although...
[The entire page is 902 words long]
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