Brooklyn in My Heart

About the Book

Brooklyn In My Heart is a true story based on the author's diaries. It takes you to bygone Brooklyn in the 1930's and 1940's. Those were hard times, yet there was a certain security in the bonding of family and neighbors who helped each other. The children found joy in simple games and activities. Crime, promiscuity and divorce were rare. The WPA hired the unemployed to build roads and buildings. The music of the Big Band Era, the dances, the romantic songs, the great movies, kept the people occupied and boosted their spirits during this impoverished era.

Hopes and ambition sprang from the tenements where poverty and struggle existed, and from where people like Danny Kaye, Sylvia Fine, Steve Lawrence, Edye Gorme and so many others rose to success and fame.

Much like her father, Jake, Rachel was undaunted in her ambition to escape from her situation. She became involved in the Big Band Era, first as a songwriter, then as a columnist. She wrote a column in a leading music magazine about legends such as Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Frank Sinatra, Harry James, Fats Waller, Bunny Berrigan, etc. She met and interviewed them. She wrote about arrangers, publishers and vocalists. Irving Berlin's arranger, Helmy Kresa, taught her a lot about writing lyrics.

During WWII she met Eleanor Roosevelt while working at the Board of Economic Warfare in Washington, D.C. Mrs. Roosevelt worked on the floor below for the Bureau of Public Information with Melvin Douglas, the movie star. She encouraged and helped her and corresponded later.

The novel reflects her love for the old Brooklyn she knew. It contains a haunting story of first love, mature love and marriage, her lost family and friends; in short, her lost youth.

About the Author

RUTH BROUN KRUH, author, songwriter, columnist, and poet was born and lived in East New York, Brooklyn from 1918 to 1942, graduating there from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1937. At the age of 10, won city-wide poetry contest. Has been writing ever since. During the big band era (1930’s and 1940’s) was columnist on “Orchestra World” magazine. Met and interviewed the famous in music. During WWII, worked at Board of Economic Warfare in Washington, D.C., Bayonne Naval Base, Camp Crowder, MO. Later, York College CUNY for 14 years. After retirement, on Executive Board of National Council of Jewish Women—Bulletin Editor, Publicity Chairman profiled outstanding women. Has son and daughter. Resides with husband in Queens, NY. Poetry on www.poetry.com