Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields - 9780805079197 - Compare Prices on New & Used Textbooks, Cheap Textbooks

The colorful life of the remarkable woman who created To Kill a Mockingbird—the classic that became a touchstone for generations of Americans

To Kill a Mockingbird, the twentieth-century’s most widely read American novel, has sold thirty million copies and still sells a million yearly. Yet despite the book’s 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 literature’s most unforgettable characters—Atticus Finch and his daughter, Scout—and who contributed to the success of her lifelong friend Truman Capote’s masterpiece, In Cold Blood.

At the center of Shields’s lively book is the story of Lee’s 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 father’s reputation and inspired her great work; her journey to Kansas as Capote’s ally and research assistant to help report the story of the Clutter murders; the surrogate family she found in New York City.

Drawing on six hundred interviews and much new information, Mockingbird is the first book ever written about Harper Lee. Highly entertaining, filled with humor and heart, this is an evocative portrait of a writer, her dream, and the place and people whom she made immortal.

		Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields ISBN-10: 9780805079197 ISBN-10: 0-8050-7919-X ISBN-13: 9780805079197 ISBN-13: 978-0-8050-7919-7 Hardcover 2006-05-30 Henry Holt and Co. Find Lowest Price
Editorials

Product Description *The colorful life of the remarkable woman who created To Kill a Mockingbird—the classic that became a touchstone for generations of Americans* To Kill a Mockingbird, the twentieth-century’s most widely read American novel, has sold thirty million copies and still sells a million yearly. Yet despite the book’s 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 literature’s most unforgettable characters—Atticus Finch and his daughter, Scout—and who contributed to the success of her lifelong friend Truman Capote’s masterpiece, In Cold Blood. At the center of Shields’s lively book is the story of Lee’s 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 father’s reputation and inspired her great work; her journey to Kansas as Capote’s ally and research assistant to help report the story of the Clutter murders; the surrogate family she found in New York City. Drawing on six hundred interviews and much new information, Mockingbird is the first book ever written about Harper Lee. Highly entertaining, filled with humor and heart, this is an evocative portrait of a writer, her dream, and the place and people whom she made immortal.
Reviews

This Mockingbird Sings "To Kill a Mockingbird" is the bestselling book of the twentieth century and is considered to be one of the best books of all time. Almost an instant classic upon its publication, it has enjoyed almost fifty years in the limelight, and never fallen by the wayside. Yet its author remains something of an enigma, a writer turned recluse who never wrote a second novel. That is exactly what Charles J. Shileds sets out to explore in "Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee". This biography begins with an acknowledgement from the author that Nelle Harper Lee would not grant any interviews to help him with the book, as she has not done so since the late 1960s. Shields explores her early life and family backgrond, painting a picture of a workaholic father and mentally imbalanced mother, and describing the childhood friendship between Lee and Truman Capote. During college, Lee enrolled in law school, following in the steps of her father and eldest sister, but soon came to loathe the law. She dropped out and moved to New York, intent to make it as a writer, with the help of some friends. While waiting for "To Kill a Mockingbird" to be published, she accompanied Capote to Kansas to be his 'assisant researchist' for "In Cold Blood", merely a magazine article at its inception. Shields devotes a good portion of the book to Nelle's involement with Capote during his research for "In Cold Blood"; being familiar with that book is certainly a bonus, but not a prerequisite. After Lee's astonishing success, her relationship with Capote was fractured, especially after he downplayed the role she had played in the writing of "In Cold Blood". Descriptions of turning the novel into a movie, three short years after its publication, also takes up a fair portion of the book. It was interesting to learn that Gregory Peck was not Lee's choice to play Atticus, a role very much based on her father. It was also interesting to see how much of Nelle Harper Lee's real life had been put into the novel: perhaps this is why she could never finish a second book. Shields does a commendable job of paiting a portrait of Nelle Harper Lee, the author of one of the most beloved books in American literature. He delves into all aspects of her life, and even talks about the started second novels that never materalized. For any fan of "To Kill a Mockingbird", or of Truman Capote, or of southern fiction in general, "Mockingbird" is an enlightening read.
Simply wonderful I just finished reading this book and was delightfully surprised. The book is wonderfully researched despite Ms. Lee's refusal to be interviewed by the author. The section describing the relationship between Truman Capote and Ms. Lee and the research/writing of In Cold Blood was simply great. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
The Book She Undertook And Her Loyalty to a Duplicitous Schnook Mr. Shields admits in the introduction that cracking open Ms. Lee's world was a daunting task and the book is not as in-depth as he had wished. The notoriously private Ms. Lee not only did not cooperate, but made some minor efforts to persuade friends and acquaintances to give Mr. Shields the silent treatment. Ms. Lee's steadfast loyalty to the very troubled Truman Capote, despite the schnook's erratic and sometimes dreadful treatment of her, is never fully explained by the author. This is through no fault of Mr. Shields. The mysteries of Stonehenge would have been easier to decipher than getting to the core of Harper Lee. Even though Mr. Shields' book does lack certain salient points about what makes her tick, overall it is a wonderful biography and well worth the reader's time and attention. Unless an unknown written treasure trove of Ms. Lee's personal thoughts surfaces, I doubt anyone will be able to do a better job than Mr. Shields.
Fabulous Read As a huge fan of TKAM, I have always wanted to know more about its elusive and very private author. I enjoyed the personal narrative style based on interviews. Kudos!
Enjoyed it! I really enjoyed reading about the life of Nelle Harper Lee. In fact, this author also interested me in the life of Truman Capote. Good job!