Just found out the original title for 'To Kill a Mockingbird' was completely different

I was reading a biography of Harper Lee and learned she first called the book 'Atticus'. It was her editor who pushed for the change we all know now. I found this in a footnote on page 23 of 'Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee'. Has anyone else come across a book fact that made you rethink the whole story?

3 comments

3 Comments

emerycarr2d ago

Wow, that's wild. It makes you wonder how many iconic titles were just editor suggestions. I remember hearing that 'The Great Gatsby' was almost called 'Trimalchio in West Egg' or something weird like that. Fitzgerald's wife hated it. Kind of changes the whole vibe, you know? Like imagining that book with a totally different name on the cover.

derekhill2d ago

Yeah, Zelda hated that one. Makes you wonder how many other classics had TERRIBLE working titles.

jamesward2d ago

My favorite is that "Of Mice and Men" was almost called "Something That Happened.