Ten years ago, Barbara Kingsolver published a first novel that is well on its way to becoming a classic work of American fiction. "The Bean Trees" is a book readers have taken to their hearts. It is now a standard in college literature classes across the nation and has been translated for a readership stretching from Japan to Romania.When it was first published, however, its author was unknown. Word of mouth spread slowly among booksellers, librarians, critics and readers with a passion to share their favorite books. In "The Bean Trees" they found a spirited protagonist, Taylor Greer, who grew up in poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when Taylor heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time she arrives in Tucson, she has acquired a completely unexpected child and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity for putting down roots. Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places.Most readers of "The Bean Trees" discovered the novel in its paperback edition. On the 10th anniversary of its first publication, HarperFlamingo is proud to offer readers this special hardback edition, redesigned to be easy on the eyes and priced to be accessible to every lover of good fiction.

芭芭拉·金索沃 Barbara Kingsolver，美国当代著名作家。美国人文领域最高荣誉“国家人文勋章”获得者。生于1955年，在肯塔基州乡间长大。迄今出版了7部长篇小说，其中有5部全美销量超100万册。作品被翻译成20多种语言，入选美国高中和大学文学课程。曾获英国橘子文学奖、南非国家图书奖、爱德华·艾比生态小说奖、戴顿文学和平奖等。代表作有《毒木圣经》《豆树青青》《纵情夏日》《罅隙》等。