Charles J Shields

"This biography will not disappoint those who loved the novel and the feisty, independent, fiercely loyal Scout, in whom Harper Lee put so much of herself." —Garrison Keillor, The New York Times Book Review
An extensively revised and updated edition of the New York Times–bestselling biography of Harper Lee, reframed from the perspective of the recent publication of Lee's Go Set a Watchman.
To Kill a Mockingbird—the...

To Kill a Mockingbird, the twentieth century's most widely read American novel, still sells a million copies yearly. Yet despite the book's perennial popularity, its creator remains a somewhat mysterious figure. Journalist Shields brings to life the warmhearted, high-spirited, and occasionally hardheaded woman who gave us two of American literature's most unforgettable characters--Atticus Finch and his daughter, Scout--and who contributed to the success...

Belize, a small country that became independent in 1981, possesses lush forests, a beautiful coastline, and a lifestyle that appeals to vacationers. It is bordered to the north by Mexico, and to the south and west by Guatemala. Off the coast of Belize, in the Caribbean Sea, is a 190-mile (300 km) long barrier reef that is home to many unusual plants and animals. It is the only country in Central America where English, not Spanish, is the official...

Presents the geography, history, economy, cities and communities, and people and culture of Costa Rica. Includes recipes, related projects, and a calendar of festivals.

Presents the geography, history, economy, cities and communities, and people and culture of Panama. Includes recipes, related projects, and a chronology.

Discusses the land, the history, the economy, the people, and the festivals of Venezuela. When Spanish explorers arrived on the coast of South America, they found that natives had built their homes on stilts along the the swampy shore of Lake Maracaibo. Because this reminded the Europeans of the city of Venice, they named the region Venezuela (Little Venice). Today, Venezuela is one of the leading oil-producing nations in the world. It has a high...

Presents information on the geography, history, economy, and people of Peru; and includes a chronology, recipes, project ideas, and more.

Presents information on the geography, history, economy, and people of Uruguay. Includes a chronology, recipes, project ideas, and more.

Discusses the land, the history, the economy, the people, and the festivals of Brazil.

"Written when she was just twenty-eight, Lorraine Hansberry's landmark A Raisin in the Sun is listed by the National Theatre as one of the hundred most significant works of the twentieth century. Hansberry was the first Black woman to have a play performed on Broadway, and the first Black and youngest American playwright to win a New York Critics' Circle Award. Charles J. Shields's authoritative biography of one of the twentieth century's most admired...