Betsy-Tacy
Encyclopedia
The Betsy-Tacy series is a collection of books written by Maud Hart Lovelace
between 1940 and 1955. The books are written at progressively more difficult reading levels as the characters age. They follow the adventures of Betsy Ray and her friends and family from the time that Betsy turns five until she is in her early twenties. They take place in the very late 19th and early 20th centuries.
As the series progresses, the cast of characters grows larger and the plots progress to reflect the changing concerns of the characters. In the first two books, the action is mainly confined to the "Hill Street" neighborhood that is home to the three main characters, Betsy, Tacy, and Tib. In books three and four, the girls' world becomes a bit larger and they have several adventures in new parts of town.
In Heaven to Betsy
, the characters begin high school
, and this book and the next three books (Betsy in Spite of Herself
, Betsy Was a Junior
, and Betsy and Joe
) each cover a year of high school life. Plots in these books tend to involve schoolwork (such as the Essay Contest, which features in all four of these books) and romances. Betsy and the Great World
takes Betsy on a tour of Europe, and Betsy's Wedding
covers the first few years of Betsy's marriage. Betsy is a storyteller from the beginning and considers herself a writer from the time of Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown. Later books deal significantly with her progress and success in writing and publishing stories.
Almost all of the characters in this series are based on the family and friends of Maud Hart Lovelace
. Betsy Ray is based on Lovelace herself. Many of the incidents in the books actually happened to Lovelace, with the significant exception of Betsy's relationship with Joe Willard. Although Joe is based on Maud's husband, Delos Lovelace, Maud and Delos did not meet until their late twenties.
Most of the novels take place largely in and around the fictional town of Deep Valley, Minnesota, which is based on the author's actual hometown of Mankato, Minnesota
. The books in the series also mention other real places in the United States, such as Milwaukee, Wisconsin
, where the character Tib Muller lives for a time.
As of 1992, only the first four books were still in print. A letter writing campaign to the Harper Collins publishing house organized by The Betsy-Tacy Society, a group of mostly adult Betsy-Tacy fans, led to all of the Betsy-Tacy books being reprinted. By 2006, several of the later books had gone out of print again, but three new editions (in 2009) by Harper Perennial Modern Classics feature pairings of the final six books, with forewords by authors who remember the stories fondly and illustrated notes on the books and Lovelace herself.
In the 1998 film You've Got Mail
, bookstore owner Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan
) describes the first two books of the series to young Annabel Fox (Hallee Hirsh
), who immediately decides she wants them all.
, and many locations described correspond to actual locations in Mankato. Deep Valley is the setting for all the books, except for Betsy and the Great World
, in which the title character travels across the Atlantic Ocean
and to various countries in Europe
, and Betsy's Wedding, which takes place in New York
and Minneapolis. The first four books in the series (when Betsy is age 5-14), the Rays live in the little yellow cottage on Hill Street across the street from the Kellys' rambling house, with Tib moving to the chocolate-colored house two streets away at the end of the first book, Betsy-Tacy.
The fifth book, depicting Betsy's freshman year of high school, begins with her on a short trip to a nearby farm where she gets terribly homesick. When she comes home, there is a surprise- a new, bigger house nearer to the downtown. Although the rest of the family is thrilled, sentimental Betsy is sad to leave the cute, little cottage.
By the last book, Betsy's Wedding, all three girls, Betsy, Tacy, and Tib, have moved out of Deep Valley. Betsy lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Joe Willard. Her parents and younger sister Margaret also live in Minneapolis at 909 Hazel Street, along with Tacy and her husband Harry Kerr. Tib lives there most of the time, although does occasionally stay with her family at the chocolate-colored house. Tacy's father is said to have died prior to her marriage (mentioned in Betsy and the Great World
); it is assumed that her mother lives in the rambling house on Hill Street.
Maud Hart Lovelace
Maud Hart Lovelace was an American author best known for the Betsy-Tacy series.-Early life:Maud Palmer Hart was born in Mankato, Minnesota to Tom Hart, a shoe store owner, and his wife, Stella . Maud was the middle child; her sisters were Kathleen and Helen...
between 1940 and 1955. The books are written at progressively more difficult reading levels as the characters age. They follow the adventures of Betsy Ray and her friends and family from the time that Betsy turns five until she is in her early twenties. They take place in the very late 19th and early 20th centuries.
As the series progresses, the cast of characters grows larger and the plots progress to reflect the changing concerns of the characters. In the first two books, the action is mainly confined to the "Hill Street" neighborhood that is home to the three main characters, Betsy, Tacy, and Tib. In books three and four, the girls' world becomes a bit larger and they have several adventures in new parts of town.
In Heaven to Betsy
Heaven to Betsy
Heaven to Betsy is the fifth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The events of the novel span Betsy and Tacy's freshman, or ninth-grade, year of school. A major character is added to the series' cast when Betsy meets Joe Willard, an orphan working for his aunt and uncle in their...
, the characters begin high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, and this book and the next three books (Betsy in Spite of Herself
Betsy in Spite of Herself
Betsy in Spite of Herself is the sixth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The story covers Betsy and Tacy's sophomore, or tenth grade, year in high school and re-introduces the character of Tib Muller, now living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.During a visit to Tib's family in...
, Betsy Was a Junior
Betsy Was a Junior
Betsy Was a Junior is the seventh volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The story spans the title character's junior, or eleventh grade, year in high school....
, and Betsy and Joe
Betsy and Joe
Betsy and Joe is the eighth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. This installment spans the title characters' senior, or twelfth grade, year in high school.- Plot summary :...
) each cover a year of high school life. Plots in these books tend to involve schoolwork (such as the Essay Contest, which features in all four of these books) and romances. Betsy and the Great World
Betsy and the Great World
Betsy and the Great World is the ninth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series of children's fiction by Maud Hart Lovelace. The novel is set in 1914 and focuses on the newly adult Betsy Ray's adventures while spending a year traveling through Europe in place of attending college. The novel is based on...
takes Betsy on a tour of Europe, and Betsy's Wedding
Betsy's Wedding (book)
Betsy's Wedding is the tenth and final book in the Betsy-Tacy series written by Maud Hart Lovelace. Set in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the book tells the story of the early married life of the main character, Betsy Ray, and her high-school sweetheart...
covers the first few years of Betsy's marriage. Betsy is a storyteller from the beginning and considers herself a writer from the time of Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown. Later books deal significantly with her progress and success in writing and publishing stories.
Almost all of the characters in this series are based on the family and friends of Maud Hart Lovelace
Maud Hart Lovelace
Maud Hart Lovelace was an American author best known for the Betsy-Tacy series.-Early life:Maud Palmer Hart was born in Mankato, Minnesota to Tom Hart, a shoe store owner, and his wife, Stella . Maud was the middle child; her sisters were Kathleen and Helen...
. Betsy Ray is based on Lovelace herself. Many of the incidents in the books actually happened to Lovelace, with the significant exception of Betsy's relationship with Joe Willard. Although Joe is based on Maud's husband, Delos Lovelace, Maud and Delos did not meet until their late twenties.
Most of the novels take place largely in and around the fictional town of Deep Valley, Minnesota, which is based on the author's actual hometown of Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
. The books in the series also mention other real places in the United States, such as Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, where the character Tib Muller lives for a time.
As of 1992, only the first four books were still in print. A letter writing campaign to the Harper Collins publishing house organized by The Betsy-Tacy Society, a group of mostly adult Betsy-Tacy fans, led to all of the Betsy-Tacy books being reprinted. By 2006, several of the later books had gone out of print again, but three new editions (in 2009) by Harper Perennial Modern Classics feature pairings of the final six books, with forewords by authors who remember the stories fondly and illustrated notes on the books and Lovelace herself.
In the 1998 film You've Got Mail
You've Got Mail
You've Got Mail is a 1998 American romantic comedy film directed by Nora Ephron, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. It was written by Nora and Delia Ephron based on the play Parfumerie by Miklós László. The film is about two letter-writing lovers who are completely unaware that their sweetheart is in...
, bookstore owner Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan
Meg Ryan
Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra , professionally known as Meg Ryan, is an American actress and producer. Raised in Bethel, Connecticut, Ryan began her acting career in 1981 in minor roles, before joining the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns in 1982...
) describes the first two books of the series to young Annabel Fox (Hallee Hirsh
Hallee Hirsh
Hallee Leah Hirsh is an American actress known for her roles as Daley in the children's series Flight 29 Down and as the second actress to portray Rachel Greene on ER...
), who immediately decides she wants them all.
Location
Deep Valley, Minnesota, is based on the author's actual hometown of Mankato, MinnesotaMankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
, and many locations described correspond to actual locations in Mankato. Deep Valley is the setting for all the books, except for Betsy and the Great World
Betsy and the Great World
Betsy and the Great World is the ninth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series of children's fiction by Maud Hart Lovelace. The novel is set in 1914 and focuses on the newly adult Betsy Ray's adventures while spending a year traveling through Europe in place of attending college. The novel is based on...
, in which the title character travels across the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and to various countries in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, and Betsy's Wedding, which takes place in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Minneapolis. The first four books in the series (when Betsy is age 5-14), the Rays live in the little yellow cottage on Hill Street across the street from the Kellys' rambling house, with Tib moving to the chocolate-colored house two streets away at the end of the first book, Betsy-Tacy.
The fifth book, depicting Betsy's freshman year of high school, begins with her on a short trip to a nearby farm where she gets terribly homesick. When she comes home, there is a surprise- a new, bigger house nearer to the downtown. Although the rest of the family is thrilled, sentimental Betsy is sad to leave the cute, little cottage.
By the last book, Betsy's Wedding, all three girls, Betsy, Tacy, and Tib, have moved out of Deep Valley. Betsy lives in Minneapolis with her husband, Joe Willard. Her parents and younger sister Margaret also live in Minneapolis at 909 Hazel Street, along with Tacy and her husband Harry Kerr. Tib lives there most of the time, although does occasionally stay with her family at the chocolate-colored house. Tacy's father is said to have died prior to her marriage (mentioned in Betsy and the Great World
Betsy and the Great World
Betsy and the Great World is the ninth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series of children's fiction by Maud Hart Lovelace. The novel is set in 1914 and focuses on the newly adult Betsy Ray's adventures while spending a year traveling through Europe in place of attending college. The novel is based on...
); it is assumed that her mother lives in the rambling house on Hill Street.
The novels
- Betsy-TacyBetsy-Tacy (book)Betsy-Tacy is the first volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace.The book is mostly about the adventures of five-year-old Betsy Ray and her new best friend, Tacy Kelly. It takes place in the fictional Deep Valley, Minnesota- based on Mankato, Minnesota, the author's home town. This...
(1940) - Betsy-Tacy and TibBetsy-Tacy and TibBetsy-Tacy and Tib is the second volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. This story introduces the character of Thelma Muller, a German-American girl who becomes friends with Betsy Ray and Tacy Kelly....
(1941) - Betsy and Tacy Go Over the Big HillBetsy and Tacy Go Over the Big HillBetsy and Tacy Go Over the Big Hill is the third volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace.-Plot overview:While the first two volumes are something like collections of vignettes about Betsy, Tacy, and Tib, this one has a story through the whole volume. The girls are competing with...
(1942) - Betsy and Tacy Go DowntownBetsy and Tacy Go DowntownBetsy and Tacy Go Downtown is the fourth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace.-Plot:In this volume in the series, horseless carriages arrive in Deep Valley for the first time when Mr. Poppy, the owner of the Opera House, buys an automobile...
(1943) - Heaven to BetsyHeaven to BetsyHeaven to Betsy is the fifth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The events of the novel span Betsy and Tacy's freshman, or ninth-grade, year of school. A major character is added to the series' cast when Betsy meets Joe Willard, an orphan working for his aunt and uncle in their...
(1945) - Betsy in Spite of HerselfBetsy in Spite of HerselfBetsy in Spite of Herself is the sixth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The story covers Betsy and Tacy's sophomore, or tenth grade, year in high school and re-introduces the character of Tib Muller, now living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.During a visit to Tib's family in...
(1946) - Betsy Was a JuniorBetsy Was a JuniorBetsy Was a Junior is the seventh volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. The story spans the title character's junior, or eleventh grade, year in high school....
(1947) - Betsy and JoeBetsy and JoeBetsy and Joe is the eighth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. This installment spans the title characters' senior, or twelfth grade, year in high school.- Plot summary :...
(1948) - Betsy and the Great WorldBetsy and the Great WorldBetsy and the Great World is the ninth volume in the Betsy-Tacy series of children's fiction by Maud Hart Lovelace. The novel is set in 1914 and focuses on the newly adult Betsy Ray's adventures while spending a year traveling through Europe in place of attending college. The novel is based on...
(1952) - Betsy's WeddingBetsy's Wedding (book)Betsy's Wedding is the tenth and final book in the Betsy-Tacy series written by Maud Hart Lovelace. Set in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the book tells the story of the early married life of the main character, Betsy Ray, and her high-school sweetheart...
(1955)
Related novels
Lovelace wrote three other books also set in Deep Valley, in which characters from the Betsy-Tacy books have a minor or implied role.- Carney's House Party (1949)
- Emily of Deep Valley (1950)
- Winona's Pony Cart (1953)