Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird: New Essays

by Michael J. Meyer (Editor)

In 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird was published to critical acclaim. To commemorate To Kill a Mockingbird's 50th anniversary, Michael J. Meyer has assembled a collection of new essays that celebrate this enduring work of American literature. These essays approach the novel from educational, legal, social, and thematic perspectives.

Harper Lee's only novel won the Pulitzer Prize and was transformed into a beloved film starring Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch. An American classic that frequently appears in middle school and high school curriculums, the novel has been subjected to criticism for its subject matter and language. Still relevant and meaningful, To Kill a Mockingbird has nonetheless been under-appreciated by many critics. There are few books that address Lee's novel's contribution to the American canon and still fewer that offer insights that can be used by teachers and by students.

These essays suggest that author Harper Lee deserves more credit for skillfully shaping a masterpiece that not only addresses the problems of the 1930s but also helps its readers see the problems and prejudices the world faces today. Intended for high school and undergraduate usage, as well as for teachers planning to use To Kill a Mockingbird in their classrooms, this collection will be a valuable resource for all teachers of American literature.

Genres: Nonfiction

290 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Julia (wortknistern)]

it's hard to rate scholarly literature but I found all essays well-written and interesting. My favourite was the one by Angela Shaw-Thornburg about reading literature like TKAM (about racism, but written by a white author) from a poc perspective.

[Deb Hallowell]

Great story

[johan diaz]

as always the book is too way better than the movie, but i was picturing all the characters from the movie.

[Jane Zwiers]

Great!