Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee - Hardcover

Shields, Charles J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 080507919X ISBN 13: 9780805079197

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co, 2006

Synopsis

To Kill a Mockingbird, the twentieth-centurys most widely read American novel, has sold thirty million copies and still sells a million yearly. Yet despite the books perennial popularity, its creator, Harper Lee has become a somewhat mysterious figure. Now, after years of research, Charles J. Shields has brought to life the warmhearted, high-spirited, and occasionally hardheaded woman who gave us two of American literatures most unforgettable charactersAtticus Finch and his daughter, Scoutand who contributed to the success of her lifelong friend Truman Capotes masterpiece, In Cold Blood. At the center of Shieldss lively book is the story of Lees struggle to create her famous novel. But her life contains many other highlights as well: her girlhood as a tomboy in overalls in tiny Monroeville, Alabama; the murder trial that made her beloved fathers reputation and inspired her great work; her journey to Kansas as Capotes ally and research assistant to help report the story of the Clutter...

About this title

Review:

"Harper Lee caught the beauty of America with "To Kill a Mockingbird," but has remained something of a mystery ever since. Charles J. Shields's portrait of her, "Mockingbird," shows us a quietly reclusive, down-to-earth woman with an enormous gift and documents her struggle to live with that gift for the rest of her life. Shields evocation of both the woman and her beautiful, sleepy, and smoldering South are pitch perfect."--Anne River Siddons, author of "Sweetwater Creek" and other books
"Harper Lee's intense personal privacy sets daunting limitations for a biographer, but Charles Shields has ingeniously recovered the feel of her childhood world of Monroeville, Alabama, and the small-town Southern customs and vivid personalities that shaped her prickly independence. Detailed memories of Lee's classmates and friends are interwoven with dramatic recreations of key events and stories of her friendships and literary collaborations, all fleshing out the general narrative of her development as a novelist. Close attention to her friendship with Truman Capote and the conditions of the writing and then the filming of" To Kill a Mockingbird" offer special fascination."--Louise Westling, Professor of English, University of Oregon, author of "Sacred Groves and Ravaged Gardens: The Fiction of Eudora Welty, Carson McCullers, and Flannery O'Connor"
""
"If there is a great American novel, certainly "To Kill a Mockingbird" is it. But, for all of us who love it, its author has always been an enigma. Did Harper Lee really write this classic? And if she did, why didn't she ever write another book? And who is Harper Lee, anyway? Finally, a writer has done the necessary research to reveal the surprising answers. To every "To Kill a Mockingbird" reader, I send this message: The story isn't over. There's so much more to come, and you'll find it all in Charles Shields' delightful and insightful "Mockingbird.""--Homer Hickam, author of "Rocket Boys"

Shields is scrupulous journalists who respects [Lee s] privacy even as he opens up her life. This biography will not disappoint those who loved the novel and the feisty, independent, fiercely loyal Scout in whom Harper Lee put so much of herself. Garrison Keillor, The New York Times Book Review

An impressively unauthorized biography of the famously reclusive author. New York Magazine, The Best Summer Reading

Shields has been enterprising [in his research]. He offers the book as a kind of homemade present. The New Yorker

Admirable Mockingbird makes the reader look at Harper Lee with new and respectful eyes. USA Today

Shields does a fine job of recreating Lee s inspiration for TO Kill a Mockingbird her childhood neighborhood, its characters and the dynamic of her family itself. Los Angeles Times

As amiable and unassuming as its subject Shields nimbly escorts us through [Lee s] progression from scrappy tomboy to wise-cracking, cigarette-smoking, fashion-resistant coed. Boston Sunday Globe

With a journalist's healthy appetite for research, Shields has unearthed every article and archive mentioning Harper Lee. He susses out which characters from To Kill a Mockingbird correspond to Lee's childhood, and he's included useful civil rights history. His portrayal of Lee's brusque personality and socially eccentric ways as a [university] student and humorist help explain her unorthodox individuality later in life. San Francisco Chronicle

Harper Lee caught the beauty of America with To Kill a Mockingbird, but has remained something of a mystery ever since. Charles J. Shields's portrait of her, Mockingbird, shows us a quietly reclusive, down-to-earth woman with an enormous gift and documents her struggle to live with that gift for the rest of her life. Shields evocation of both the woman and her beautiful, sleepy, and smoldering South are pitch perfect. Anne River Siddons, author of Sweetwater Creek and other books

Harper Lee's intense personal privacy sets daunting limitations for a biographer, but Charles Shields has ingeniously recovered the feel of her childhood world of Monroeville, Alabama, and the small-town Southern customs and vivid personalities that shaped her prickly independence. Detailed memories of Lee's classmates and friends are interwoven with dramatic recreations of key events and stories of her friendships and literary collaborations, all fleshing out the general narrative of her development as a novelist. Close attention to her friendship with Truman Capote and the conditions of the writing and then the filming of To Kill a Mockingbird offer special fascination. Louise Westling, Professor of English, University of Oregon, author of Sacred Groves and Ravaged Gardens: The Fiction of Eudora Welty, Carson McCullers, and Flannery O'Connor

If there is a great American novel, certainly To Kill a Mockingbird is it. But, for all of us who love it, its author has always been an enigma. Did Harper Lee really write this classic? And if she did, why didn't she ever write another book? And who is Harper Lee, anyway? Finally, a writer has done the necessary research to reveal the surprising answers. To every To Kill a Mockingbird reader, I send this message: The story isn't over. There's so much more to come, and you'll find it all in Charles Shields' delightful and insightful Mockingbird. Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys

"

"Shields is scrupulous journalists who respects [Lee's] privacy even as he opens up her life. This biography will not disappoint those who loved the novel and the feisty, independent, fiercely loyal Scout in whom Harper Lee put so much of herself." --Garrison Keillor, The New York Times Book Review

"An impressively unauthorized biography of the famously reclusive author." --New York Magazine, The Best Summer Reading

"Shields has been enterprising [in his research]. He offers the book as a kind of homemade present." --The New Yorker

"Admirable...Mockingbird makes the reader look at Harper Lee with new and respectful eyes." --USA Today

"Shields does a fine job of recreating Lee's inspiration for TO Kill a Mockingbird... her childhood neighborhood, its characters and the dynamic of her family itself." --Los Angeles Times

"As amiable and unassuming as its subject...Shields nimbly escorts us through [Lee's] progression from scrappy tomboy to wise-cracking, cigarette-smoking, fashion-resistant coed." ---Boston Sunday Globe

"With a journalist's healthy appetite for research, Shields has unearthed every article and archive mentioning Harper Lee. He susses out which characters from To Kill a Mockingbird correspond to Lee's childhood, and he's included useful civil rights history. His portrayal of Lee's brusque personality and socially eccentric ways as a [university] student and humorist help explain her unorthodox individuality later in life." --San Francisco Chronicle

"Harper Lee caught the beauty of America with To Kill a Mockingbird, but has remained something of a mystery ever since. Charles J. Shields's portrait of her, Mockingbird, shows us a quietly reclusive, down-to-earth woman with an enormous gift and documents her struggle to live with that gift for the rest of her life. Shields evocation of both the woman and her beautiful, sleepy, and smoldering South are pitch perfect." - Anne River Siddons, author of Sweetwater Creek and other books

"Harper Lee's intense personal privacy sets daunting limitations for a biographer, but Charles Shields has ingeniously recovered the feel of her childhood world of Monroeville, Alabama, and the small-town Southern customs and vivid personalities that shaped her prickly independence. Detailed memories of Lee's classmates and friends are interwoven with dramatic recreations of key events and stories of her friendships and literary collaborations, all fleshing out the general narrative of her development as a novelist. Close attention to her friendship with Truman Capote and the conditions of the writing and then the filming of To Kill a Mockingbird offer special fascination." - Louise Westling, Professor of English, University of Oregon, author of Sacred Groves and Ravaged Gardens: The Fiction of Eudora Welty, Carson McCullers, and Flannery O'Connor

"If there is a great American novel, certainly To Kill a Mockingbird is it. But, for all of us who love it, its author has always been an enigma. Did Harper Lee really write this classic? And if she did, why didn't she ever write another book? And who is Harper Lee, anyway? Finally, a writer has done the necessary research to reveal the surprising answers. To every To Kill a Mockingbird reader, I send this message: The story isn't over. There's so much more to come, and you'll find it all in Charles Shields' delightful and insightful Mockingbird. " - Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys

-Shields is scrupulous journalists who respects [Lee's] privacy even as he opens up her life. This biography will not disappoint those who loved the novel and the feisty, independent, fiercely loyal Scout in whom Harper Lee put so much of herself.- --Garrison Keillor, The New York Times Book Review

-An impressively unauthorized biography of the famously reclusive author.- --New York Magazine, The Best Summer Reading

-Shields has been enterprising [in his research]. He offers the book as a kind of homemade present.- --The New Yorker

-Admirable...Mockingbird makes the reader look at Harper Lee with new and respectful eyes.- --USA Today

-Shields does a fine job of recreating Lee's inspiration for TO Kill a Mockingbird... her childhood neighborhood, its characters and the dynamic of her family itself.- --Los Angeles Times

-As amiable and unassuming as its subject...Shields nimbly escorts us through [Lee's] progression from scrappy tomboy to wise-cracking, cigarette-smoking, fashion-resistant coed.- ---Boston Sunday Globe

-With a journalist's healthy appetite for research, Shields has unearthed every article and archive mentioning Harper Lee. He susses out which characters from To Kill a Mockingbird correspond to Lee's childhood, and he's included useful civil rights history. His portrayal of Lee's brusque personality and socially eccentric ways as a [university] student and humorist help explain her unorthodox individuality later in life.- --San Francisco Chronicle

-Harper Lee caught the beauty of America with To Kill a Mockingbird, but has remained something of a mystery ever since. Charles J. Shields's portrait of her, Mockingbird, shows us a quietly reclusive, down-to-earth woman with an enormous gift and documents her struggle to live with that gift for the rest of her life. Shields evocation of both the woman and her beautiful, sleepy, and smoldering South are pitch perfect.- - Anne River Siddons, author of Sweetwater Creek and other books

-Harper Lee's intense personal privacy sets daunting limitations for a biographer, but Charles Shields has ingeniously recovered the feel of her childhood world of Monroeville, Alabama, and the small-town Southern customs and vivid personalities that shaped her prickly independence. Detailed memories of Lee's classmates and friends are interwoven with dramatic recreations of key events and stories of her friendships and literary collaborations, all fleshing out the general narrative of her development as a novelist. Close attention to her friendship with Truman Capote and the conditions of the writing and then the filming of To Kill a Mockingbird offer special fascination.- - Louise Westling, Professor of English, University of Oregon, author of Sacred Groves and Ravaged Gardens: The Fiction of Eudora Welty, Carson McCullers, and Flannery O'Connor

-If there is a great American novel, certainly To Kill a Mockingbird is it. But, for all of us who love it, its author has always been an enigma. Did Harper Lee really write this classic? And if she did, why didn't she ever write another book? And who is Harper Lee, anyway? Finally, a writer has done the necessary research to reveal the surprising answers. To every To Kill a Mockingbird reader, I send this message: The story isn't over. There's so much more to come, and you'll find it all in Charles Shields' delightful and insightful Mockingbird. - - Homer Hickam, author of Rocket Boys

About the Author:

A former English teacher who taught Harper Lee’s novel for years, Charles J. Shields has a BA in English and an MA in American history from the University of Illinois, where he was a James Scholar. The author of many widely praised books for young people, he spent four years researching Mockingbird in Alabama, New York, and Kansas, speaking to hundreds of Lee’s neighbors, friends, classmates, and culling facts from the archives of Truman Capote and other collections, as well as papers from the Monroe County (Alabama) courthouse and historical museum. He lives in central Virginia with his wife.

About this edition

• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 080507919X
• ISBN 13: 9780805079197
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 337