Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird

Screen Adaptations #3

by R. Barton Palmer, Deborah Cartmell (Series Editor)

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, published in 1960, is one of the most popular and acclaimed novels to appear in 20th century America. The book's appeal to readers both young and old shows no signs of diminishing in the new millennium. The 1962 film version, an enduring, much-loved classic, ranks 25th of the American Film Institute's Greatest American Movies list. And yet, neither Lee's novel nor the film version has attracted much critical discussion.

This book, by a leading literary and film scholar, shines light on the complex and fascinating adaptation process that brought Lee's work to the commercial screen. R. Barton Palmer deftly places Mockingbird within both its fictional setting — a 1930s Southern town marked deeply by racial injustice — and the postwar Civil Rights era that saw the novel and film emerge to such popularity. Palmer demonstrates, with learning and subtlety, how the indirect indictment of the insupportable evil of Jim Crow in both novel and film has proven spectacularly successful in changing hearts and minds for nearly half a century.

262 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2008

About the author

R. Barton Palmer is the Calhoun Lemon Professor of Literature at Clemson University.

Reviews

[Shera]

This is hands down my favorite book of all time. When I was a sophmore in high school I read some of the best books I've ever had the pleasure of sinking into; Farenheight 451, Catcher in the Rye, Grapes of Wrath and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. This book sparked my passion and committment to social justice and TELLING CHILDREN THE TRUTH! My dog's name is even Scout Atticus and I'm forever grateful to Harper Lee for creating this epic story.

[Avinash]

I started this book with many expectations because of the Pulitzer tag and that may b the reason i didnt find it that good.
Overall you can read and get a feel of the conditions and the prejudices held by people in America in the 30's.the narration which will be done form a 9 year old girl's point of view will be interesting and many a times you find urself relating ur childhood to the narrator's.

To the end i expected a bit more,i dont know what...

[Annie55555]

I just finished To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, and I would definitely recommend it to my friends. The story takes place in a southern town in Alabama during the Great Depression. It is about a white family that consists of Jem, Scout, and their father, Atticus, who is a lawyer defending an African American man accused of raping a white girl. I would suggest people read this book because of the fast-paced plotline, the unique characters, and the moral that it teaches you in the end.

[Susan Poling]

One of the few books I've liked that I also liked the movie. Do you think Gregory Peck could have had something to do with it? When I remember this book I can feel the timber of his Gregory Peck's voice.

I read it again in 2015 and it was just as good. I was drawn to reread it...something I rarely do...to prepare for the sequel that is coming out in July.

[Taylor]

This was a very good book. It showed just what it was like in the south for African Americans and that even though they were supposed to be treated fair in the courtroom, they weren't. It's a great book and the movie is good to.

[Michael Decker]

it was an okay book. although it does have a good moral to it

[Jason Grey]

Death was mercy while reading this

[Chantil]

SHORT, NOT BIG ENOUGH TO SINK YOUR TEETH IN, BUT STILL HEART TOUCHING.

[Pradini]

smart, heart-touched, sentimental :)

[Leslie]

My all-time favorite book

[Loriann Fish]

Excellent book, as usual! Can't wait to discuss it at book group.

[M]

Classic literature that should be added on everyone's 'to-read' list.

[Michelle]

I totally forgot about this book.I read this book like 10 years ago and alot of it now is a little foggy. I will def be picking this up to reread.

[Deckard]

a really good book

[Ashley jones]

it was a good book.

[Bebe]

Book on CD - this was a re-read after all these years this story has not lost anything to time, being read by Cissy Spacek was an added bonus, if I am alive in 20 years time I will do a re-listen.

[Tatiana]

a masterpiece: full of innocence and yet integrity.

[Louise]

deceptively simple style
stuningly written