“A Celebration of Reading”
As the Literary Capital of Alabama and Harper Lee's birthplace, Monroeville is a common destination for anyone who is passionate about the power of books. To honor this cultural heritage, the Monroeville | Monroe County Chamber of Commerce commissioned a striking bronze statue that reflects the city's rich literary history. Learn more about "A Celebration of Reading", then call Visit Monroeville AL at 251-743-2880 for more information about everything book lovers will want to check out on their next visit.
Creation of the Statue
Monroeville is a popular destination for literature lovers traveling along the Southern Literary Trail and taking in all of the important sites along the way. Inspired by these travelers, state tourism director Lee Sentell knew Monroeville needed some way to display pride in the town's role in this cultural heritage. From this inspiration, "A Celebration of Reading" was born.
The statue was commissioned in 2010, and a lengthy search was conducted to determine who would create the work. The honor went to Birmingham, AL sculptor Branko Medenica, who crafted the three-part statue from bronze over a period of four years. On April 17, 2014, the statue was finally unveiled on the Monroeville courthouse square.
The Statue’s Design
“A Celebration of Reading” features three children gathered around a bench. A barefoot girl in pigtails, meant to look like Scout of To Kill a Mockingbird, sits on the right side of the bench and holds a book, a rapt expression indicating her enjoyment of the story. Two boys are perched over her shoulder on each end of the bench, both clearly swept up in the tale as well. The design conveys the sense of childlike wonder that reading can bring, as well as the way books inspire and motivate us all.
Best of all, the statue is designed to be interactive, so visitors can immerse themselves in the scene. Space on the bench allows a person to sit next to the reading girl and pose for pictures as if they were sharing her joy in the book. Linking the city's place in literary history, the resulting photo will capture the striking dome of the Monroeville Courthouse in the background. More than simply another city building, the courthouse served as inspiration for important scenes in To Kill a Mockingbird and even inspired the set design of the 1962 film adaptation.
The Literary Sculpture Trail
You may be surprised to learn that Harper Lee is not the only Pulitzer Prize winner from Monroeville, nor is she the only writer to have a statue dedicated to her work in the town. In fact, ten writers have been honored along the Literary Sculpture Trail in Monroeville, including:
This stunning list of successful writers from just one county led the Alabama State Legislature to bestow the title of Literary Capital of Alabama upon Monroeville in 1997. Cynthia Tucker and Hank Williams are the fellow Pulitzer Prize winners joining Lee, and Truman Capote gained acclaim for his novel In Cold Blood. Additionally, the Alabama Writers Symposium is held in Monroeville annually to honor writers from the state, both contemporary and from the past. The Literary Sculpture Trail is a project of Monroeville Main Street.
Experience Literary History
With so many notable authors, Monroeville has made a big impact on the landscape of American literature. "A Celebration of Reading" is just one of the ways the community honors this influence and invites locals and visitors alike to take part in it. For help planning your next trip, contact Visit Monroeville AL to learn more about the city's literature, culture and history. To bring home a piece of these traditions, visit The Bird's Nest Gift Shop located inside the Monroe County Museum for Monroeville memorabilia.
Creation of the Statue
Monroeville is a popular destination for literature lovers traveling along the Southern Literary Trail and taking in all of the important sites along the way. Inspired by these travelers, state tourism director Lee Sentell knew Monroeville needed some way to display pride in the town's role in this cultural heritage. From this inspiration, "A Celebration of Reading" was born.
The statue was commissioned in 2010, and a lengthy search was conducted to determine who would create the work. The honor went to Birmingham, AL sculptor Branko Medenica, who crafted the three-part statue from bronze over a period of four years. On April 17, 2014, the statue was finally unveiled on the Monroeville courthouse square.
The Statue’s Design
“A Celebration of Reading” features three children gathered around a bench. A barefoot girl in pigtails, meant to look like Scout of To Kill a Mockingbird, sits on the right side of the bench and holds a book, a rapt expression indicating her enjoyment of the story. Two boys are perched over her shoulder on each end of the bench, both clearly swept up in the tale as well. The design conveys the sense of childlike wonder that reading can bring, as well as the way books inspire and motivate us all.
Best of all, the statue is designed to be interactive, so visitors can immerse themselves in the scene. Space on the bench allows a person to sit next to the reading girl and pose for pictures as if they were sharing her joy in the book. Linking the city's place in literary history, the resulting photo will capture the striking dome of the Monroeville Courthouse in the background. More than simply another city building, the courthouse served as inspiration for important scenes in To Kill a Mockingbird and even inspired the set design of the 1962 film adaptation.
The Literary Sculpture Trail
You may be surprised to learn that Harper Lee is not the only Pulitzer Prize winner from Monroeville, nor is she the only writer to have a statue dedicated to her work in the town. In fact, ten writers have been honored along the Literary Sculpture Trail in Monroeville, including:
- Harper Lee
- Truman Capote
- Cynthia Tucker
- Hank Williams
- Mark Childress
- Marva Collins
- Rheta Grimsley-Johnson
- Riley Kelly
- Mike Stewart
- William Barret Travis
This stunning list of successful writers from just one county led the Alabama State Legislature to bestow the title of Literary Capital of Alabama upon Monroeville in 1997. Cynthia Tucker and Hank Williams are the fellow Pulitzer Prize winners joining Lee, and Truman Capote gained acclaim for his novel In Cold Blood. Additionally, the Alabama Writers Symposium is held in Monroeville annually to honor writers from the state, both contemporary and from the past. The Literary Sculpture Trail is a project of Monroeville Main Street.
Experience Literary History
With so many notable authors, Monroeville has made a big impact on the landscape of American literature. "A Celebration of Reading" is just one of the ways the community honors this influence and invites locals and visitors alike to take part in it. For help planning your next trip, contact Visit Monroeville AL to learn more about the city's literature, culture and history. To bring home a piece of these traditions, visit The Bird's Nest Gift Shop located inside the Monroe County Museum for Monroeville memorabilia.
