TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Book Society Choice by  HARPER LEE First English Edition ___________________________________ Synopsis To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by the American author Harper Lee. It was published in June 1960 and became instantly successful. In the United States. To Kill a Mockingbird has become a classic of modern American literature; a year after its release, it won the Pulitzer Prize.  The plot and characters are loosely based on Lee's observations of her family, her neighbours and an event that occurred near her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, in 1936, when she was ten. Despite dealing with the serious issues of rape and racial inequality, the novel is renowned for its warmth and humour.  Atticus Finch, the narrator's father, has served as a moral hero for many readers and as a model of integrity for lawyers. The historian Joseph Crespino explains, "In the twentieth century, To Kill a Mockingbird is probably the most widely read book dealing with race in America, and its main character, Atticus Finch, the most enduring fictional image of racial heroism." As a Southern Gothic novel and Bildungsroman, the primary themes of To Kill a Mockingbird involve racial injustice and the destruction of innocence.  Lee also addresses issues of class, courage, compassion, and gender roles in the Deep South. Lessons from the book emphasise tolerance and decry prejudice.  Despite its themes, To Kill a Mockingbird has been subject to censorship campaigns leading, in 2006, British librarians to rank the book ahead of the Bible as one "every adult should read before they die".   About This Book Illustrated red cloth boards in good condition with gilt title on spine. Light sunning to spine. Very light marking to back cover. Corners and extremities bumped.  Pencilled note on ffep. Splash/water staining to outside edges. Apart from a little marking to top edge internally, good clean condition throughout. Pristine facsimile dust jacket. Please check pictures and don't hesitate to ask if you have any queries! H39