A Bright Tomorrow (Originally A Time to be Born) (American Century Series #1) [Paperback]

Gilbert Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2005

Meet the Stuart family: eight children raised in the hills of Arkansas by their godly and determined mother, Marian, who does her best to lead her children to Christ. But as her three oldest, Lylah, Amos, and Owen, each decide to go their own ways, none seem to follow the path Marian has laid out for them. Set at the turn of the twentieth century, this first of the American Century series tells the story of a time of growth and opportunity. Filled with historical figures such as Theodore Roosevelt and James Randolph Hearst, this fascinating book will draw readers into the exciting events of the time and the lives of the family it follows. As the Stuarts mature, so does a young nation racked with uncertainty and growing pains of its own. Previously published as A Time to Be Born

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

In 1898, dreams of love and success captivate the hearts and minds of the Stuart family Lylah, Amos, and Owen Stuart long for adventure. Coming from a large family with eight children, the three eldest of the Stuart clan want to spread their wings, leave their poverty-stricken home in the hills of Arkansas, and go in search of the American dream. Armed with only curiosity and courage, they each set out to take advantage of the opportunities awaiting them. But could life be all that they imagined? Filled with the loves, losses, and diverse dreams of a starry-eyed family, A Bright Tomorrow begins an epic series that will draw you into the exciting events and opportunities of a growing but uncertain young nation. Follow the sprawling saga of the Stuart family decade by decade and discover for yourself all the tragedy, hope, romance, and adventure a century can hold! Formerly a college English professor, Gilbert Morris spends all his waking hours writing fiction. The best-selling author of the House of Winslow series, he lives with his wife in Orange Beach, Alabama.

About the Author

Gilbert Morris was a pastor before becoming an English professor and earning a Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas. Gilbert has been a consistent bestselling author (The House of Winslow) in the Christian market for many years. He and his wife live in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Fleming H Revell Co; Reprinted edition (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800730860
• ISBN-13: 978-0800730864
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,051,772 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gilbert Morris is among today's most popular Christian writers; his books having sold nearly six million copies worldwide. He specializes in historical fiction and won a 2001 Christy Award for the Civil War drama Edge of Honor. Once a pastor and English professor who earned a Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas, Morris lives with his wife in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Time to be Born/A Bright Tomorrow, May 31, 2010

By 

Karyl Entner "K Entner" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Bright Tomorrow (Originally A Time to be Born) (American Century Series #1) (Paperback)

I found this six book series in my public library and after reading the first one of them, I am hooked. Since I read the original title, there is no way to tell for sure how much revision was done in 2007.
Gilbert Morris once again crafts historical fiction into so much reality that one is sure the Sturat family really did exist. (I checked and they don't.) The realism is wonderful and the portrayal of characters in late 1800's into early 1900 is accurate and moving yet spins a tale that really could happen to children of an unambitious Arkansas farmer and sweet wife who bore 8 children. All of their tales will be told through the series.
In book one, A Time to be Born, the story is mostly about the three oldest of the eight children. All three know that there has to be more than scraping out a life in the hills of Arkansas and all travel interconnecting routes. Morris is an insightful historian who puts the events of the presidency of T. Roosevelt into an inescapable read. It is not spell binding, nor rivoting, but it is a wonderful story of survival and finding fulfillment in both loss and love. The ending is so sweet, but don't you dare read it early! You would lose far too much of a heart-stiring story.