PLAIN, BELVA

PLAIN, BELVA (1919– ), U.S. novelist. Born in New York and a graduate of Barnard College, Plain published her first book, Evergreen, in 1978 when she was almost 60. The book topped the New York Times bestseller list for 41 weeks and was adapted into a six-part television series. Evergreen spans three generations of an immigrant family. It was born, she said, when her children began asking questions about their forebears. Every one of Plain's books became national bestsellers. More than 25 million copies of her books were in print in the early part of the 21st century, and they appeared in 22 foreign translations. Before she became a novelist, Plain wrote short stories for major magazines. A history major in college, Plain used her background in her work. The Werner family saga, first unveiled in Evergreen, continued in The Golden Cup (1986), Tapestry (1988), and Harvest (1990). The Sight of the Stars was published in 2003. (Stewart Kampel (2nd ed.)