To Kill a Mockingbird

A novel that explores the tragedy of racism in the 1930s and the dramatics of the ‘Great Depression’, Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ is a tale that infuses humour and sorrow into a touching story that lives on eternally in the minds of the readers. Set in a town that has its roots in a history of prejudice, violence and hypocrisy, the story follows the lives of Scout and Jem Finch as they come of age and experience the discrimination that floods their society. They watch their father (a lawyer) struggle for the justice of a black man who is charged with the rape of a white girl.

‘Shoot all the bjuejays you want, if you can hit’em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird’, is the lawyer’s advice to his children as he fights for justice for an innocent. The mockingbird is synonymous with the real life black man. His father is trying to prove his innocence to the people who are heavily steeped in race and class discriminations. This anti-racist novel deals with the harsh truths of the prejudiced minds of Deep South in the 1930s while incorporating genuine good-natured humour that gives the readers a lot to laugh about. A true epitome of southern writing, Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ is testimony to the true struggles of those who were discriminated racially, through the eyes of two teenagers witnessing their father’s struggle against it all.

Lee focuses on several aspects of the racism that was rampant in the time of the story and the effects of ‘The Great Depression’ and its impact on the southern people. The combination of a genuine storyline, intricately woven characters, blunt truths and the warmest humour makes this novel a one-of-a-kind experience. Published by RHUK on 24th of June, 2010, this book ranks 19th among the best sellers and is 320 pages long with 11 x 1.9 x 17.8 cm in dimensions.