This title includes in-depth critical discussions of Harper Lee's novel. ""To Kill a Mockingbird"" is the type of book that transcends boundaries. Having been translated into over 40 languages, and never having gone out of print since its date of publication, Lee's novel is considered to be one of the most influential works of the 20th century. And while she never wrote another work of fiction, Lee is celebrated the world around for having created such a lasting and accessible story. Edited by Alabama native and Lee scholar Don Noble, this volume brings together some of the very best criticism available on Lee's timeless classic. Overview essays by Nancy Grisham Anderson and Gurdip Panesar consider the cultural contexts surrounding the novel and the critical reception of Lee's work. Neil Heims offers a close examination of the novel as wisdom literature while Teresa Godwin Phelps and Thomas L. Shaffer consider the lessons being taught in the novel. Critic Matthew J. Bolton suggests looking at Lee's novel as an introduction to life in the South with an eye towards understanding Faulkner while Laurie Champion examines the notion of visual perception as a metaphor that is carried throughout the novel. Also included in this collection are character studies of Atticus Finch; a consideration of narrative strategies in both the novel and the film version of Mockingbird; and studies of sexuality, race, and ethics as found in the novel. ""Mockingbird"" remains one of a handful of novels with the unique ability to influence the way people live their lives. The essays included in this volume help to shed light on some of Mockingbird's most enduring qualities. Each essay is 5,000 words in length, and all essays conclude with a list of ""Works Cited,"" along with endnotes. Finally, the volume's appendixes offer a section of useful reference resources: a chronology of the author's life; a complete list of the author's works and their original dates of publication; and, a general bibliography.