Editors’ Pick
Designed to Feel by Peter Burchardt
Designed to Feelby Peter Burchardt — on emotions, evolution & the science of feeling
View on Amazon →
Cover of To Kill a Mockingbird
Literary Fiction· United States

To Kill a Mockingbird

by Harper Lee
Aggregate Editorial Score78/100
★Pulitzer Prize
Published 1961English
Buy on Amazon →

About This Book

Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird (1961) stands as one of the most significant works of literary fiction of its era. Scout Finch narrates the story of her father Atticus, a lawyer who defends a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman in Depression-era Alabama. Lee's beloved novel is at once a coming-of-age story, a meditation on racial injustice, and a celebration of moral courage. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and is among the most widely read novels in the English language. Themes of racial injustice, moral courage, childhood run through the work. The book has received recognition from Pulitzer Prize 1961 and TIME 100 Best Novels 1961.

Book Details

AuthorHarper Lee
Published1961
Country of Origin🇺🇸 United States
LanguageEnglish
Category📖 Literary Fiction
ISBN9780061935466
Editorial Score78/100
About the Category

📖 Literary Fiction

Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

Explore all Literary Fiction books →
Country of Origin

🇺🇸 United States

This book is part of United States's rich literary tradition.

Explore books from United States →

Editorial Assessment

Harper Lee published To Kill a Mockingbird in 1961, and it has since become one of the more widely recognised works of literary fiction from United States. The book's treatment of racial injustice, moral courage, childhood, the South accounts for much of its enduring reputation. Among its recognitions: Pulitzer Prize 1961; TIME 100 Best Novels 1961; BBC Big Read 1960. With an editorial score of 78/100 drawn from 3 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys. Readers coming to To Kill a Mockingbird for the first time will find a work that rewards patience. The book's handling of racial injustice, moral courage, childhood, the South is layered rather than didactic, and a second reading often reveals dimensions the first pass only hinted at. Harper Lee's role in the literature of United States is well established. To Kill a Mockingbird can be read as both a standalone achievement and as part of a broader national literary conversation about identity, history, and the possibilities of narrative form.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 3 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.

Awards & Recognition

Pulitzer Prize
winner · national
196148
TIME 100 Best Novels
list · global
196121
BBC Big Read
list · national
196017
✍️
About the Author
Harper Lee
United States
View Author →

Harper Lee is a celebrated author from United States known for influential works of literary fiction.

Happy Children
The Parenting Companion
Happy Children
What Evolution Actually Built Your Child’s Emotions For
Your child’s emotions are not the problem. They are the operating system.
Get It on Amazon →Paperback & Kindle

What to Read Next

Cover of Midnight's Children
literary-fiction

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie· 1981
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The God of Small Things
literary-fiction

The God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy· 1997
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Remains of the Day
literary-fiction

The Remains of the Day

Kazuo Ishiguro· 1989
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The White Tiger
literary-fiction

The White Tiger

Aravind Adiga· 2008
★Nobel Prize in Literature★Booker Prize
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of The Road
literary-fiction

The Road

Cormac McCarthy· 2007
★Pulitzer Prize★Hugo Award
Editorial Score100/100
Cover of Wolf Hall
historical-fiction

Wolf Hall

Hilary Mantel· 2009
★Booker Prize★Costa Book Award
Editorial Score100/100

Frequently Asked Questions

What is To Kill a Mockingbird about?

Scout Finch narrates the story of her father Atticus, a lawyer who defends a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman in Depression-era Alabama. Lee's beloved novel is at once a coming-of-age story, a meditation on racial injustice, and a celebration of moral courage. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and is among the most widely read novels in the English language.

Who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird?

To Kill a Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee, from United States. First published in 1961.

What awards has To Kill a Mockingbird won?

To Kill a Mockingbird has received the following awards and honours: Pulitzer Prize 1961; TIME 100 Best Novels 1961; BBC Big Read 1960.

Is To Kill a Mockingbird worth reading?

To Kill a Mockingbird is a widely acclaimed work with strong critical consensus, with an aggregate editorial score of 78/100 on 50 Best Books, based on mentions across 3 editorial sources. It is particularly recommended for readers interested in racial injustice, moral courage, childhood.

Where can I buy To Kill a Mockingbird?

You can buy To Kill a Mockingbird on Amazon. Click the Buy on Amazon button above to find the best edition.

What category is To Kill a Mockingbird?

To Kill a Mockingbird is classified as Literary Fiction. Character-driven fiction that prioritises style, theme, and psychological depth.

What country is To Kill a Mockingbird from?

To Kill a Mockingbird originates from United States's literary tradition. Explore more books from United States on our country page.

Popular on 50 Best Books

Best Science Fiction Books of All TimeScience FictionBooker Prize Winners — Complete List & GuideLiterary PrizesNobel Prize in Literature — Every Winner Since 1901Literary PrizesClassic Literature Reading List — 50 Essential BooksReading GuidesBest Books for Beginners — 20 Easy Reads for New BookloversReading Guides

Explore More

📖More Literary FictionBrowse all Literary Fiction books🇺🇸Books from United States🇺🇸 United States literature📅1960s BooksPublished in the 1960s🏆Top 50 RankingsThe greatest books of all time