The Great Political Fictions: Helen Lewis on To Kill A Mockingbird

David talks to the writer and broadcaster Helen Lewis about Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird (1960), one of the most widely read and best-loved novels of the twentieth century, and in the twenty-first century increasingly one of the most controversial. Is the book an attack on or an apology for Southern racism? How does its view of race relate to the picture it paints of class and caste in 1930s Alabama? And what on earth are we to make of the recently published prequel/sequel Go Set A Watchman? Plus we discuss Demon Copperhead, JD Vance, and more. Sign up now to PPF+ to get ad-free listening and all our bonus episodes – including a new bonus episode on Philip Roth’s The Plot Against America www.ppfideas.com  Our free fortnightly newsletter will be out tomorrow, including more to read, watch and listen to about To Kill A Mockingbird – just sign up here https://linktr.ee/ppfideas Next time: Tim Rice talks about Evita Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Om Podcasten

Past Present Future is a bi-weekly History of Ideas podcast with David Runciman, host and creator of Talking Politics, exploring the history of ideas from politics to philosophy, culture to technology. David talks to historians, novelists, scientists and many others about where the most interesting ideas come from, what they mean, and why they matter. Ideas from the past, questions about the present, shaping the future. New episodes every Thursday and Sunday.