One Sentence Summary
Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that deals with themes of racism and injustice in the 1930s American South.
Book Genre
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee in 1960, published by J. B. Lippincott & Co. It is a work of fiction, and is a coming-of-age story set in the 1930s Southern United States.
Main Topic of the Book
To Kill a Mockingbird revolves around the lives of a lawyer named Atticus Finch and his two children, brother and sister Jem and Scout. It deals with the themes of racism and social injustice in the 1930s Southern United States.
Key Ideas
- Moral courage and sacrifice in the face of injustice
- Racism in the Deep South and its effect on people
- The fragility of childhood innocence in a tumultuous world
- The importance of family and friendship
Main Parts of the Book and a Short Summary
- Part 1: Growing Up in Maycomb County
The story is set in the fictional town of Maycomb County, Alabama, and follows protagonist Jean Louise Finch, or “Scout”, as she and her brother Jem experience the racial tension in their small town. The climax of this part of the story is when Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, is tasked with defending a black man named Tom Robinson who is accused of rape. - Part 2: The Trial of Tom Robinson
The second part of the story revolves around the trial of Tom Robinson and the prevalence of racism in the town. After Atticus puts up a rather impressive defense, Tom is found guilty, leading to much outrage and sorrow amongst the people of Maycomb. - Part 3: Themes of Discrimination, Justice, and Prejudice
The final part of the novel revolves around the themes of discrimination, justice, and prejudice. In the end, Atticus and the children learn that justice isn’t always served in the way they want it to be. Nevertheless, they still manage to come away with valuable lessons on understanding human emotion and the importance of looking beyond what lies on the surface.
Key Takeaways
- Good and evil can exist in the same person, and moral decisions have consequences
- Injustice in any form can have lasting effects on people’s lives
- Innocence can be corrupted but compassion and understanding can still prevail
- Racism is a theme that still exists today and people must strive to abate it
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Harper Lee was an American novelist from Monroeville, Alabama. She is best known for her 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961 and was made into an Academy Award-winning film in 1962. This was her only published novel, although she had written works of non-fiction, poetry, and several other unfinished works.
Target Audience
To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic novel and is suitable for anyone aged 14 and up. It appeals to many audiences, as anyone can relate to the themes of adversity, justice, and racism.
Publisher and First Publication Date
To Kill a Mockingbird was originally published by J. B. Lippincott & Co. in July 1960. It is currently published by various publishers around the world, including, Grand Central Publishing.