My Pick for Great American Novel was Distant Fifth over To Kill a Mockingbird

Earlier this month Publishers Weekly launched a poll to identify the great American novel.  I posted a blog about this, casting my vote for The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, and I had some good reasons (click here).

And the winner …

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

I can’t say I can argue too much with the winner. It is a great novel with memorable characters. It addresses racism, an unfortunate part of the American story. Many would also argue that its setting in Alabama is a major qualifier. The south, in the minds of many, is so distinctly American. Atticus Finch, one of the major characters of the story, has attained legendary status for honesty and integrity (although he could be accused of being too perfect—it would have been nice to see him have a flaw or two).

Based on sales alone, To Kill a Mockingbird is the runaway winner. It is standard high school reading and both hardcover and paperback editions are still in print. According to Wikipedia, it has sold 30 million copies (I think that is a lowball figure). Huckleberry Finn, which has probably sold as much, came in third place with about half the votes garnered by To Kill a Mockingbird (1,356,936 to 677,916).

The Great Gatsby came in a respectable second at 1,077,481. Gone with the Wind was fourth 436,591. The Grapes of Wrath took fifth place with 256,087.

Not surprisingly, three of the top four books feature racism as one of the major themes.

I recently read Gone With the Wind for the first time. I found the institutionalized racism of the time maddening, although I am sure it was accurate. The novel sugarcoated slavery, depicting the lives of house slaves and yard slaves, overlooking the brutality of life as a field slave. Margaret Mitchell also had some POV problems.

I am also surprised that The Great Gatsby showed such a strong second. I thought the book was … alright.

But if I am to believe all the rejection slips I receive, all literature is very subjective.

Also of interest was that Truman Capote would have been proud. Harper Lee and Capote were childhood friends. The character of Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird was fashioned after him. 

See ya’ later.

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Comments

[Millie HInkle]

I voted for In Cold Blood. Capote introduced the current model for novels. Most of us are now writing in this style.

I had resisted reading this violent tale, but I am forever grateful that I did.