Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill A Mockingbird

In my book discussion group, when we read a work of classic literature one question inevitably arises. How did this particular work come to be regarded as a classic? Depending on the book, it can be a complex set of factors that contribute to the enduring legacy of a novel including a combination of the author’s use of language, the subject matter, and the societal circumstances into which the work first appeared.

To Kill a Mockingbird, which was originally published in 1960 and its 1962 film adaptation starring Gregory Peck has had a lasting influence upon American culture. The book has remained a staple on required high school reading lists for decades. Hey Boo is a documentary which provides insight into how it became a classic and why it still resonates with readers today. The film delves into the life of author Harper Lee and the cultural forces present at the time of its publishing, which transformed the novel into a masterpiece of American literature.

This documentary should especially be of interest in light of the 2015 release of Harper Lee’s second novel, Go Set a Watchman.