Monroeville: Literary Capital of Alabama (AL) (Images of America) [Paperback]

Kathy McCoy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 1998

Monroeville is the county sear of Monroe County, a count older than the state of Alabama itself. Located in what was the western Creek Nation, Monroeville became the center of county business in 1832, eighteen years after the surrender of the Creeks to Andrew Jackson. Monroeville soon became a powerful political base in the state. In the 20th century, it hosted visits from Big Jim Folsom as well as George Wallace, a powerful young orator who would change the face of American politics. Today, Monroeville is known as the childhood home of internationally known authors Harper Lee and Truman Capote. Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill A Mockingbird was set in a small town that still Southern town based on Monroeville. Many of Capote's short stories and novels were drawn from his Monroeville experiences. Visitors from around the world come to the town that still remembers when Truman rented the town's only taxi for the weekend and drove around for days visiting . Townsfolk like to talk about the time Gregory Peck came to town to meet the many of the people who were inspirations for the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird. As other writers from Monroeville emerge, such as Mark Childress and Cynthia Tucker, one wonders how many more stories the town holds, as well as what is so special about a small, rural southwestern Alabama town call Monroeville.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

As other writers from Monroeville emerge, such as Mark Childress and Cynthia Tucker, one wonders how many more stories the town holds, as well as what is so special about a small, rural southwestern Alabama town called Monroeville.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (October 26, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0752412124
• ISBN-13: 978-0752412122
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,664,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book for the Diehard Mockingbird Fan, January 1, 2009

By 

Monica Helton (Alabama USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Monroeville: Literary Capital of Alabama (AL) (Images of America) (Paperback)

Growing up in Monroeville Alabama, I took Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" for granted. I really liked the book and I read it over and over, but I had little interest in the history of my hometown. To me, history was something that was as far from Monroeville as I could get. Years later, after I came to my senses and had learned to love the history of my county and my state, I returned to the works of Harper Lee and her childhood friend Turman Capote and the town that helped to shape their literary creations. "Monroeville Literary Capital of Alabama" is an excellent guide to the small town in southwest Alabama that has given birth to two remarkable writers Harper Lee and Truman Capote. The book is filled with photographs of Monroeville from the very early 20th century to the 1930's-the time of the events of the novel-to the late 1990's. Along with the photos is a short history of the town including the history of the 1903 courthouse (now the Monroe County Heritage Museum) whose courtroom served as a model for the courtroom in the 1962 film version of the book. Along with the history behind the book are stories about the men and women who lived in Monroeville during the 20th century and helped to make the town what it is today.It was written by Kathy McCoy who served as the first director of the Monroe County Heritage Museum and who has a deep love for the town and its people. This book is perfect for the diehard Mockingbird fan who wants to know more about the town behind the novel and for anyone who has an interest in Alabama's literary heritage. This book should be read along with "Monroeville: The Search for Harper Lee's Maycomb" for a more detailed understanding behind the book that is the great American novel of the 20th century.