Is it always good to go home? As readers grapple with the implications of Go Set a Watchman, the proti-Mockingbird novel recently released by HarperCollins the adds a different layer to some of literature's most beloved characters, now may be a good time to indulge in a little literary nostalgia. Both novels are set in Maycomb, a fictional version of author Harper Lee's childhood home of Monroeville, Alabama, where she grew up with close friend and literary collaborator Truman Capote. Ever since Lee's debut became an instant classic, the town has been a place of pilgrimage for book fans, with tens of thousands visiting annually, a figure that should only rise as presales for Lee's book set records. A cottage industry of To Kill a Mockingbird locations, from the Mockingbird Inn to a restaurant named for the recluse, Boo Radley (perhaps service isn't its strong point), have sprung up in town, but plenty of historic buildings and homes can give readers a glimpse of Lee's live and inspirations. Here's a tour of some of the sites that inspired Jem, Scout and Atticus.
∙ NYC Buildings Where Great Literary Works Were Written [Curbed New York]
∙ Mapping The 1920s New York City Of The Great Gatsby [Curbed New York]
∙ Impress Your Date With Ten Seattle Spots of Literary Worth [Curbed Seattle]
∙ Mapping Los Angeles's Most Iconic Literary Passages [Curbed LA]