A celebratory edition to

mark the fiftieth anniversary of

this unforgettable classic

‘Shoot all the bluejays you want,

if you can hit 'em, but remember

it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.’

A lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of Harper Lee's classic novel a black man charged with the rape of a white girl. Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem Finch, Harper Lee explores with exuberant humour the irrationality of adult attitudes to race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s. The conscience of a town steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy is pricked by the stamina of one man's struggle for justice. But the Weight of history will only tolerate so much.

‘Someone rare has written this very fine novel,

a writer with the liveliest sense of life and the warmest,

most authentic humour. A touching book;

and so funny, so likeable.’

Truman Capote