Harper Lee

By Dr. Howard Markel

Reevaluating ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ 60 years later

In the 60 years since “To Kill a Mockingbird,” one of the most widely read books in middle school, was published, the lens through which it frames race and its Black characters has come under scrutiny. NewsHour Weekend anchor Hari…

By PBS NewsHour

Jeff Daniels on getting in character to play Atticus Finch

Small-town Alabama lawyer Atticus Finch from Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” is one of the most recognizable characters in American literature. In the recent Broadway update of the classic American story, actor Jeff Daniels plays Finch. Jeffrey Brown talks…

By Jeffrey Brown

"To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. Photo by Nate Parsons/The Washington Post/Getty Images

10 books besides ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ that tackle racial injustice

The 1960 novel is a perennial reading assignment for many students, but there are many other great books that tackle similiar topics, educators say.

By Joshua Barajas, Victoria Pasquantonio

How Aaron Sorkin reworked ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ for Broadway

Aaron Sorkin, an Oscar-winning director and creator of the hit TV show “The West Wing,” now has a new adaptation of the classic novel “To Kill A Mockingbird” on Broadway. The reworked version of Harper Lee’s book has been nominated…

By Jeffrey Brown

Remembering the life and legacy of Harper Lee

By PBS NewsHour

Renowned author Harper Lee, whose debut novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” has become enshrined within the American literary canon, died early Friday morning at age 89. Jeffrey Brown sits down with bestselling novelist Allan Gurganus to discuss Lee’s works and…

Continue watching

Harper Lee, author of American classic ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ dead at 89

By Joshua Barajas, Corinne Segal

Pulitzer Prize winning author Harper Lee died Friday at the age of 89. Lee wrote the beloved 1960 novel "To Kill a Mockingbird."…

Viewers sound off on plot twist in Harper Lee’s new novel

By PBS NewsHour

Viewers weigh in on the recent revelation that Harper Lee's beloved character from "To Kill A Mockingbird," Atticus Finch, holds racist views. Hari Sreenivasan reads your comments.

Continue watching

How Harper Lee’s alternative take on Atticus Finch may resonate with readers

By PBS NewsHour

Harper Lee’s newly published novel "Go Set a Watchman" offers a dramatically different tone and take on the character Atticus Finch from her beloved work "To Kill a Mockingbird." Jeffrey Brown talks to former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey and…

Continue watching

Harper Lee’s ‘Go Set a Watchman’ offers surprising shift

By PBS NewsHour

The first surprise was the manuscript itself: an unpublished novel by Harper Lee that predated "To Kill a Mockingbird." The existence and subsequent publication of "Go Set a Watchman" has spurred huge national interest, as well as record book orders.

Continue watching