To Kill a Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee in the early 1960s. It was published in 1960 and became an instant classic. The novel is set in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama, in the 1930s and centers on the Finch family, specifically Atticus Finch, a white lawyer who defends a black man accused of a crime he did not commit. The novel deals with themes of racism, injustice, and the importance of moral courage. To Kill a Mockingbird was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 1962.
Harper Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007 for her work as an author. To Kill a Mockingbird is considered one of the greatest novels of all time by many critics and readers alike. The book has been banned in some schools due to its use of racial slurs; however, many others believe it should remain on shelves so that students can learn about American history through this classic piece of literature.
Harper Lee died in 2016 at the age of 89 after suffering from illness for several years prior to her death.
