Saturday Book of the Day: From Little Italy to Atticus Finch

Writer Gay Talese has been an astute observer of America for a very long time. Now 83, after a career in journalism and books spanning seven decades, he remains a remarkable observer, commenter and stylist.

In a recent interview with New York magazine, Talese- who attended the University of Alabama, 1949-1953, confessed he wasn’t very surprised that, in Harper Lee’s new book, lawyer Atticus Finch reveals a dark, angry, racist side. ““It’s the 1950s. It’s the pre-civil-rights period, the Eisenhower period,” he said. “I read about what’s going on, but it seems not remarkable to me that a person — an outstanding, upstanding, somewhat righteous person with regard to humanity, as Atticus Finch is depicted — would have that other side, that less sunlit area of his brain that could be responsive to, and maybe a proponent of, racism. Because it was a period — this period in which Harper Lee existed as a writer — when there was very little social conscience, not only in the deep South, but particularly in the deep South, because it was so nakedly racist there, with ‘colored,’ with separate water fountains, and all that stuff. Whereas in the North, it was much more hypocritical.”

Henry Bemis Books is pleased to offer Talese’s 1992 memoir, in an autographed first edition:

Talese, Gay, Unto the Sons (Knopf, 1992, 1st ed.). ISBN 0-679-4130401. Sweeping saga of the Italian-American experience in the 20th century, centering around his paternal and maternal families’ immigration to the United States around World War I. Hardcover, unclipped dust jacket, very good condition, autographed. HBB price: $75.

Henry Bemis Books is one man’s attempt to bring more diversity and quality to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg market of devoted readers starved for choices. Our website is at www.henrybemisbookseller.blogspot.com. For more information about any listed book, or more photos, please contact Lindsay at henrybemisbookseller@gmail.com. Henry Bemis Books is also happy to entertain reasonable offers on items in inventory. Shipping is always free; local buyers are welcome to drop by and pick up their purchases at our location off Peachtree Road in Northwest Charlotte if they like. #RareBooks #HenryBemisBooks #GayTalese #UntotheSons #Autographed #First Editions #AtticusFinch #Racism