The Hindu Business Line : A book for everyone

The Bible, which has sold the largest number of copies in the world, has been relegated to the second spot by Harper Lee's 1961 bestseller, To Kill a Mockingbird, as the book every adult should read, according to a poll conducted by British librarians. The Lord of the Rings trilogy comes third; classics like Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice and A Christmas Carol find a honourable mention, while the more recent bestseller, Da Vinci Code is way down the list.

No one will dispute the verdict. To Kill a Mockingbird was an amazing first novel, which won the `Pulitzer' fiction prize and sold more than six million copies. Its appeal is universal. In fact, it has been constantly included in American school curricula. The book's special appeal is the warm relationship between a widower father and his two children, and also the racial discrimination in the southern part of the US in the 1920s.

Gregory Peck, one of Hollywood's most enduring stars, when offered the role of the hero — the father Atticus Finch, sat up all night reading the novel and telephoned the producers the next morning and said: "If you want me to play Atticus Finch, when do I start? I'd love to play it." Peck won the Oscar Award for Best Actor for the film and later explained that Finch was one of the easiest roles he played. All he had to do was to be himself and think of his childhood in Southern California.

It is not known if the book was autobiographical. Author Lee was also from the South and was familiar with racial prejudice. Yet the novel never preached racial tolerance; Finch did not deliver any boring lectures on the issue. He is shown having a wonderful time with his precocious children, treating them like adults and instilling in them values like respect to elders and tolerance. School kids loved the book because they identified themselves with the kids, Scout and Jem, and their friend, Dill.

There is an element of mystery and suspense in the book over the `invisible' occupant of the neighbouring Radley House. Who was the shadowy `Boo' Radley? A monster? That is the fun part. Finch's relationship with his children provides the sentiment, but the dark impact of racism is always in the background.

The Afro-American prisoner, falsely accused of rape and defended by Finch, knows he has no chance in the racist small town. He will be either lynched or judged guilty and hanged. Finch too knows this, but is prepared to fight for his cause.

Mockingbird is history, fun and fiction with doses of pathos. The simplicity of the style, the unforgettable characterisation and the humour made one wonder how anyone could write such a brilliant first novel.

Sadly, Lee never reached similar greatness. But she was the close friend and constant companion of another great author, Truman Capote, and went with him to Holcomb town in Kansas to help with the research for his unusual novel, In Cold Blood, which recounted the senseless murder of four relatives of a local farmer, Clutter.

In Cold Blood won rave reviews and Capote, who dedicated the book to his friend Lee, described it as a `non-fiction novel'. Lee slowly vanished from public glare and like another great American writer, J.D. Salinger, avoided all media publicity.

It was only some weeks ago, that she gave a rare interview to The New York Times where she spoke about the Hollywood movie, Capote, which was about her friend and the Kansas murders.

Capote, which was nominated at the Oscars, featured the character of Lee in a major role and helped us understand the brilliant but eccentric author. In one of the scenes where Capote and Lee were shown travelling in the Kansas-bound train, a black porter enters the compartment and praises Capote's books. Lee immediately knows that her friend has paid the porter beforehand to make such remarks and Capote, caught in the act, does not deny it!

More Stories on : Books | People | Politics

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Bite into Aamchi fare

Not in her care anymore

Little masters!

Dress circle

Big city airs

American dream... in India

Tata chronicles and more

Celebrate life

A book for everyone