This important novel was written over 55 years ago, about three years before John F. Kennedy, the President of the United States of America, was assassinated. And why? Because he was determined to have integrated education of whites and blacks in American public schools and universities.
The hero of Mockingbird was Atticus Finch, a model citizen, father and lawyer. The heroine was his daughter, the young tomboy called Scout. Atticus stood up to the bigotry of his town by defending a black man. At that time, in that place, such a stand was near impossible. But Atticus was a fictional figure and so was able to do what a real man could not. Such a stand was well overdue in America and so people loved the book, for it described what they felt should be happening. As a result, Harper Lee’s book moved the debate forward – but not enough, alas, for President Kennedy. To Kill A Mockingbird became a classic.
Go Set A Watchman is not quite as well written or edited. The first few chapters are a bit awkward and stilted, possibly because the story is of the grown-up Scout, and probably fairly autobiographical. In this book, the racism and classism of her hometown are shown in all their nastiness, meanness and unfairness. Atticus, Scout’s father and hero, is shown as a decent but bigoted man, a respected member of his bigoted society, defending and trying to hold on to the old order. Scout is shocked when she realises this.
Although Scout is not racist, she is in some respects classist, and cannot see it, which adds an interesting nuance to the story.
This book could not have been published 55 years ago in the USA, but it is great that it has been published now. Read it and ponder!
