ONE OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN NOVELS EVER WRITTENWINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION'No one forgets this book' Independent'One of the best first novels I remember ... uniquely unsentimental' Guardian'There is humour as well as tragedy in this book, besides its faint note of hope for human nature; and it is delightfully written' Sunday Times'A rare literary phenomenon' VogueThe iconic modern classic and coming-of-age novel exploring racism in the American South. 'Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.'A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel - a black man charged with a serious crime.

Through the young yes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores the irrationality of adult attitudes to race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina of one man's struggle for justice. But the weight of history will only tolerate so much.

'Someone rare has written this very fine novel, a writer with the liveliest sense of life and the warmest, most authentic humour. A touching book; and so funny, so likeable.' Truman Capote

9780099549482
Harper Lee
Cornerstone

WHY WOULD YOU REED TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD?
To Kill a Mockingbird, the classic that became a classic when it was published, because it simply is that good. Looking through the eyes of 6-year-old Scout Finch, Harper Lee contrasts the simplicity of childhood and the harsh realities of racial prejudice in the American South. Next to the prosecution of Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of raping a white woman, Lee beautifully explores questions of human morality, prejudice, racism and the goodness found in most people. At the centre of the novel lies one goal: to protect the innocent, to “remember it’s a sin to kill a Mockingbird”. Although the novel is filled with reflections on serious themes, the tone reflects the world of the young main character, filled with humour and curiosity. For readers seeking a classic that balances warmth, humour and moral depth, To Kill a Mockingbird remains a timeless essential.