Reading Harper Lee

Understanding To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman

Claudia Durst Johnson

• Publisher: Greenwood
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9798216136354
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: North American Literary Criticism
• Index: Literature

The first book-length study of Harper Lee's two novels, this is the ultimate reference for those interested in Harper Lee's writing, most notably as it considers race, class, and gender. To Kill a Mockingbird is timeless, continuing to be a favorite among both students and adults. One million copies are sold every year, and it remains one of the books most often taught in school. This companion guide helps students to better understand the complex themes of race, class, and gender that were first introduced in To Kill a Mockingbird and remain relevant in Go Set a Watchman, which both challenges and mirrors the topics discussed in Lee's first novel. A literary scholar and a friend of Harper Lee herself, author Claudia Durst Johnson brings a unique perspective to Lee's texts. The book provides a historical background of the Great Depression and the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement as well as an analysis of the widespread censorship of Lee's works. Chapters provide important context for topics such as racial issues, women's issues, and class divisions in the Deep South and serve as discussion points that give students a starting point for their research; similarly, teachers who struggle with how to introduce students to these challenging but timely topics will appreciate the wealth of knowledge this companion guide will deliver.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: Harper Lee: Life of a Writer
• Chapter 2: Historical Context of To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman
• Chapter 3: Literary Structure and Themes of To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman
• Chapter 4: Race Relations in Harper Lee’s Works
• Chapter 5: Women’s Issues and Gender
• Chapter 6: The Question of Social Class
• Chapter 7: The South
• Chapter 8: The Hero: Atticus Finch
• Chapter 9: Impact and Censorship
• Chapter 10: Relevance Today of Issues in Harper Lee’s Novels
• Chronology
• Notes on Sources
• Index
• About the Author