To Kill a Mockingbird in popular culture
Since the publication of" To Kill a Mockingbird" in 1960, there have been many references and allusions to it in popular culture. The book has been internationally popular for more than a half century, selling more than 30 million copies in 40 languages. It currently (2013) sells 750,000 copies a year and is widely read in schools in America and abroad. Harper Lee and her publisher did not expect "To Kill a Mockingbird" to be such a huge success. Since it was first published in 1960, it has sold close to one million  copies a year and has been the second-best-selling backlist title in the United States. Whether they like the book or not, readers can remember when and where they were the first time they opened the book. Because of this, "Mockingbird" has become a pillar for students around the country and symbol of justice and the reminiscence of childhood. "To Kill a Mockingbird" is not solely about the cultural legal practices of Atticus Finch, but about the fatherly virtues he held towards his children and the way Scout viewed him as a father. Parties were held across the United  States for the 50th anniversary of publication in 2010. In honor of the 50th anniversary, famous authors and celebrities as well as people close to the book's author, Harper Lee, shared their experiences with "To Kill a Mockingbird" in the book "Scout, Atticus, & Boo: A Celebration of Fifty Years of To Kill a Mockingbird". The book features interviews with Mary Badham, Tom Brokaw, Oprah Winfrey, Anna Quindlen, Richard Russo, as well as Harper Lee's sister, Alice Finch Lee. The 2010 documentary film "Hey, Boo: Harper Lee & To Kill a Mockingbird" focuses on the background of the book and  the film as well as their impact on readers and viewers.