History of To Kill a Mockingbird in Timeline
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, is a classic of American literature set in the 1930s in Alabama. Narrated through the eyes of Scout Finch, it explores themes of racial injustice, prejudice, and morality in the Deep South. Scout, her brother Jem, and their widowed father Atticus, a lawyer, navigate the complexities of their small town when Atticus defends Tom Robinson, a black man wrongly accused of assaulting a white woman. The novel highlights the children's loss of innocence as they witness the hatred and bigotry prevalent in their community and learn valuable lessons about empathy and standing up for what is right, even in the face of adversity.
1919: Amasa Coleman Lee's Criminal Case
In 1919, Amasa Coleman Lee, Harper Lee's father, defended two black men accused of murder but never took another criminal case after they were convicted, hanged, and mutilated.
1926: Harper Lee's Birth
In 1926, Harper Lee was born in Monroeville, Alabama.
1933: Setting of Graphic Novel Adaptation
In 1933, the setting of Maycomb, Alabama is faithfully recreated in Fred Fordham's graphic novel adaptation.
1933: Story Takes Place During the Great Depression
The story of To Kill a Mockingbird, told by Jean Louise Finch, takes place during three years (1933–35) of the Great Depression in the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama.
1936: Event in Monroeville, Alabama
In 1936, when Harper Lee was ten years old, an event occurred near her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, which would later loosely inspire the plot and characters of To Kill a Mockingbird.
1937: Death of Walter Lett
In 1937, Walter Lett, a black man accused of raping a white woman near Monroeville when Harper Lee was 10, died of tuberculosis in prison after his death sentence was commuted to life in prison.
1944: Attended Huntingdon College
In 1944, Harper Lee attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery (1944-45).
1945: Studied Law at the University of Alabama
In 1945, Harper Lee studied law at the University of Alabama (1945–49).
1950: Move to New York City
In 1950, Harper Lee moved to New York City and began writing about people in Monroeville.
1952: Death of Reclusive Neighbor
In 1952, the son of the family, who served as models for the fictional Radleys, died, after being kept at home for 24 years out of shame.
1955: Murder of Emmett Till
In 1955, Emmett Till, a black teenager who was murdered for allegedly flirting with a white woman in Mississippi, is considered a model for Tom Robinson.
1956: Riots at the University of Alabama
In 1956, riots occurred at the University of Alabama after Autherine Lucy and Polly Myers were admitted; Myers eventually withdrew her application and Lucy was expelled.
1957: Completion of Go Set a Watchman
In 1957, Harper Lee completed an earlier draft of To Kill a Mockingbird, titled Go Set a Watchman, which was set 20 years after To Kill a Mockingbird.
1957: Presented Writing to a Literary Agent
In 1957, Harper Lee presented her writing to a literary agent recommended by Truman Capote, leading to a recommendation to focus on writing.
July 11, 1960: Publication of To Kill a Mockingbird
On July 11, 1960, after the original title was rejected, To Kill a Mockingbird was published.
1960: Lee and Capote Investigate Murders
In 1960, Harper Lee and Truman Capote traveled to Kansas together to investigate the multiple murders that were the basis for Capote's nonfiction novel In Cold Blood.
1960: To Kill a Mockingbird Novel Publication
In 1960, Harper Lee's novel To Kill a Mockingbird was published in the United States and became instantly successful.
1960: Initial Reviews of the Novel
In 1960, early reviews of the To Kill a Mockingbird varied, with The New Yorker praising Lee's skill and Time magazine highlighting the novel's truths about Southern life and Scout Finch's appeal.
1961: Pulitzer Prize Awarded
In 1961, To Kill a Mockingbird was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, the Brotherhood Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews after being on the bestseller list for 41 weeks.
1962: Paperback of the Year Award
In 1962, To Kill a Mockingbird won the Paperback of the Year award from Bestsellers magazine.
1962: Film Adaptation Release
In 1962, a film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird, directed by Robert Mulligan with a screenplay by Horton Foote, was released and won an Academy Award.
1963: Classroom Study Controversy
In 1963, To Kill a Mockingbird started generating controversy as a subject of classroom study due to racial slurs, profanity, and discussions of rape.
1964: Last Interview to a Journalist
Harper Lee gave her last interview to a journalist in 1964.
1964: Lee Recalls Hopes for the Book
In 1964, Lee recalled her hopes for To Kill a Mockingbird.
1964: Bruell Summarized Mockingbird Symbolism
In 1964, Writer Edwin Bruell summarized the symbolism, writing, "'To kill a mockingbird' is to kill that which is innocent and harmless—like Tom Robinson."
1964: Lee Aspired to Be Jane Austen
In a 1964 interview, Harper Lee remarked that her aspiration was "to be ... the Jane Austen of South Alabama."
1964: Lee Declines Interviews
Starting in 1964, Harper Lee began to decline interviews regarding To Kill a Mockingbird, finding the questions monotonous.
1966: Parental Protest in Hanover, Virginia
In 1966, a parent in Hanover, Virginia, protested the use of rape as a plot device in To Kill a Mockingbird, deeming it immoral.
1968: National Education Association Complaint List
In 1968, the National Education Association placed To Kill a Mockingbird second on a list of books receiving the most complaints from private organizations.
1980: Autherine Lucy Reinstated
In 1980, Autherine Lucy, who was previously expelled from the University of Alabama after being admitted in 1956, was reinstated.
1990: Play Debut in Monroeville
In 1990, Christopher Sergel's play adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird debuted in Monroeville, Alabama, with townspeople comprising the cast and racially segregated audiences.
1990: Annual Play Performance Begins
Since 1990, a play based on the novel To Kill a Mockingbird has been performed annually in Harper Lee's hometown.
1991: Cited as Making a Difference
A 1991 survey found that To Kill a Mockingbird was fourth in a list of books "most often cited as making a difference".
1992: Editorial Calls for Atticus' Death
In 1992, an Alabama editorial called for the death of Atticus Finch, sparking debate among attorneys.
1995: Lee Refuses Introduction
In 1995, Harper Lee refused to provide an introduction for To Kill a Mockingbird, believing it would inhibit the reader's pleasure.
1997: Monument Erected to Atticus
In 1997, the Alabama State Bar erected a monument to Atticus Finch in Monroeville, marking his existence as the "first commemorative milestone in the state's judicial history".
2000: Most Challenged Books
In 2000, The American Library Association reported To Kill a Mockingbird was number 21 of the 100 most frequently challenged books.
2003: BBC's The Big Read
In 2003, To Kill a Mockingbird was listed at No. 6 on the BBC's The Big Read, the highest-ranking non-British book on the list.
2004: Citywide Reading Program
By 2004, To Kill a Mockingbird had been chosen by 25 communities for variations of the citywide reading program, more than any other novel.
May 2005: Lee's Appearance at the Los Angeles Public Library
In May 2005, Harper Lee made an uncharacteristic appearance at the Los Angeles Public Library at the request of Gregory Peck's widow Veronique.
2005: Lee States Inspiration for Tom Robinson
In 2005, Harper Lee stated that she had in mind something less sensational than the Scottsboro case for the character of Tom Robinson, although the Scottsboro case served "the same purpose" to display Southern prejudices.
2006: Ranked Ahead of the Bible
In 2006, British librarians ranked "To Kill a Mockingbird" ahead of the Bible as one "every adult should read before they die".
2006: UK Tour Start
In 2006, Christopher Sergel's play adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird toured in the UK starting at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds.
2006: Honorary Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame
In 2006, Harper Lee was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Notre Dame, where she received a standing ovation and the graduating class held up copies of To Kill a Mockingbird.
November 5, 2007: Presidential Medal of Freedom
On November 5, 2007, Harper Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush for To Kill a Mockingbird's influence on the character of the United States.
2008: Most Widely Read Book in Secondary Schools
A 2008 survey indicated that To Kill a Mockingbird was the most widely read book in U.S. secondary schools between grades 9–12.
2008: Lee Receives Honorary Bar Membership
In 2008, Harper Lee herself received an honorary special membership to the Alabama State Bar for creating Atticus Finch, who "has become the personification of the exemplary lawyer in serving the legal needs of the poor".
2009: Most Challenged Books
In 2009, The American Library Association reported To Kill a Mockingbird was number 21 of the 100 most frequently challenged books.
2011: UK Tour Start
In 2011, Christopher Sergel's play adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird toured in the UK starting at the York Theatre Royal.
2013: Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Debut
In 2013, Christopher Sergel's play adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird opened the season at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in London, starring Robert Sean Leonard.
2014: Return to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre
In 2014, the production of Christopher Sergel's play adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird returned to Regent's Park Open Air Theatre before embarking on a UK tour.
July 14, 2015: Publication of 'Go Set a Watchman'
On July 14, 2015, Harper Lee's earlier draft of To Kill a Mockingbird, titled Go Set a Watchman, was published.
February 2016: Death of Harper Lee
In February 2016, Harper Lee died, having continued to respond to the impact of her work until her death.
2016: Removal from Virginia Classrooms
In 2016, To Kill a Mockingbird was removed from classrooms in Virginia after parental complaints regarding racist language.
2017: Removal from Mississippi Classrooms
In 2017, To Kill a Mockingbird was removed from classrooms in Biloxi, Mississippi, due to discomfort caused by the novel's content.
October 2018: Graphic Novel Adaptation
In October 2018, Fred Fordham adapted and illustrated To Kill a Mockingbird as a graphic novel.
2018: Broadway Debut
In 2018, Aaron Sorkin's new adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird debuted on Broadway and was nominated for nine Tony Awards.
2018: America's Favorite Book
In 2018, To Kill A Mockingbird was chosen as America's Favorite Book by the American public via PBS's The Great American Read.
November 5, 2019: BBC's 100 Most Influential Novels
On November 5, 2019, BBC News listed To Kill a Mockingbird on its list of the 100 most influential novels.
2020: Top Check Outs Of ALL TIME
In 2020, To Kill a Mockingbird was number five on the list of "Top Check Outs OF ALL TIME" by the New York Public Library.
December 28, 2021: Named Best Book of the Past 125 Years
On December 28, 2021, The New York Times announced To Kill a Mockingbird as the best book of the past 125 years.
2021: Proposed Removal in Mukilteo, Washington
In 2021, teachers in Mukilteo, Washington proposed removing To Kill a Mockingbird from the required reading list, with the school board approving the removal from the freshman list, arguing that it "centers on whiteness".
