Tales of the City American Classics Edition: A Novel

“A consummate entertainer who has made a generation laugh. . . . It is Maupin’s Dickensian gift to be able to render love convincingly.”— Edmund White, Times Literary Supplement

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, HarperCollins is proud to present this library of American classics drawn from our storied catalog. For more than four decades, Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City has blazed its own trail through popular culture—from a groundbreaking newspaper serial to a classic novel, to a television series that has captivated millions around the world. One of the earliest popular novels to feature an openly trans woman and to depict life in San Francisco during the AIDS crisis, it has become a quintessential part of LGBTQ+ literary history.

San Francisco, 1970s—a city alive with freedom, self-discovery, and the vibrant pulse of queer life. At the heart of it all is 28 Barbary Lane, a shabby-chic apartment run by the enigmatic, warmhearted Anna Madrigal. Here, an unlikely family of eccentrics, dreamers, and outsiders comes together: Mary Ann Singleton, the wide-eyed newcomer from Cleveland; Michael “Mouse” Tolliver, a charming, gay young man navigating love and friendship; Mona Ramsey, sharp-tongued and fiercely independent; and Brian Hawkins, a charismatic, womanizing ex-lawyer.

Through romance, heartbreak, humor, and the highs and lows of urban life, Maupin captures a San Francisco alive with queer culture and the search for belonging. Tales of the City is a groundbreaking portrait of identity, community, and love in all its forms—funny, tender, and unforgettable.

• A BEAUTIFUL PACKAGE WITH FLAPS: Featuring French flaps and a unique vivid cover design, each book in the collection is published as a deluxe trade paperback that is a part of a stunning series look.
• HARPER COLLINS AMERICAN CLASSICS: This series includes timeless novels, poetry, children’s books, and groundbreaking nonfiction that has shaped American thought, literature, and identity across generations.
• AMERICA’S PUBLISHER: Since its founding in 1817, no American publisher has been so entwined in the history of American letters. Our books enrich, challenge, and defined the American spirit.
• AMERICA 250: The HarperCollins American Classics arrive in time for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.