In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee tells the story of Scout Finch and her brother Jem, who live with their widowed father Atticus in rural Maycomb County, Alabama. The novel is set during the 1930s and follows Scout through her childhood until she reaches adolescence. The story is told through the eyes of a child, which allows the reader to see events and characters in a more innocent light.
The novel deals with the themes of racism and prejudice, which were prevalent in the American South during this time period. The novel has been translated into more than 40 languages and has sold more than 30 million copies worldwide.
The novel was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 1962. The novel was named one of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century by the Modern Library. In 2006, it was voted one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS viewers (tied for second place with The Great Gatsby).
