> In the 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, what's the first name of Boo Radley?And the answer: Arthur.Photo credit: Encyclopedia Brittanica.In the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel byHarper Lee, Arthur "Boo" Radley is a neighborhood recluse whose mere name scareslocal children. However, in one pivotal scene, he saves the day.To Kill a Mockingbird is a great work of American fiction. Interestingly, thenovel is Harper Lee's only published work – its wild success is said to havedeterred the largely introverted writer from embarking on a new project. Yet, Mockingbird continues to occupy a place of relevance in the American culturalzeitgeist. Taking place in Alabama in the mid-1930s, its themes regarding raceand justice remain pertinent reminders of the power of narrative. In a 1962interview, Lee claimed:> "My book had a universal theme. It’s not a ‘racial’ novel. It portrays an aspectof civilization, not necessarily Southern civilization.” The aspect of civilization portrayed in Mockingbird was also largely drawn fromher own life. One of the primary characters, Atticus Finch, was drawn from herfather, a lawyer who historically defended two African-American men on trial formurder. The setting of the novel, Maycomb, was also heavily inspired by herhometown of Monroeville, Alabama. When it came down to publishing, Lee faced nearly ubiquitous rejection. All 10publishers that received the manuscript turned it down – that is, untilLippincott begrudgingly signed on. Apparently, at that point the novel stillneeded a good amount of reworking, and Lee faced a long editing period until thenovel's release in 1960. Since its release, though, To Kill a Mockingbird continues to be one of the most widely read, great American texts.Learn more about the plot and context of the book below.