The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it, this became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, it takes readers to the roots of human behavior - to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature. Featuring a new introduction by the author, this specially packaged, hardcover edition of an American classic celebrates the 35th anniversary of its original publication.