“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view”- To Kill a Mockingbird.
When you read this, it will be September and the autumn will be moving to centre stage of the year’s seasons. I am happy to have been blogging for Diary of a Young Writer for a year this month. The celebration will be suitably literary! I wanted to write about authors who have had a successful novel or text published within their first year of writing, to mark my first year. However, this proved slightly more elusive than I thought, so I have chosen three writers who had a successful debut novel. This will have been early in their writing careers.
The first choice is To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) by Harper Lee. Lee writes powerfully about racial inequality and the law system, and the way black people were more likely to be assumed to have done a crime. I have chosen the quote of the month from this powerful novel, because it is true that we can’t “really understand” another person until we “consider” their “point of view”. It creates a more understanding and fair society when this advice is followed. The novel has had many audiences over the 65 years since it was published and Lee created a masterpiece of social critique at the time. The character of Atticus Finch is seen as the hero in this novel for defending the black man in court. However, in Go Set a Watchman (2015), Atticus is seen as more racist than first thought. The novel was written before To Kill a Mockingbird, but was advertised as a sequel so looks like a reflection of the events in Mockingbird. Lee was an extraordinary writer and this debut novel has proved it and stood the test of time for its popularity.
The second choice is The Hobbit (1937) by J.R.R.Tolkien. This fantasy novel was his first novel and over 88 years has become a worldwide loved classic. It has inspired the Lord of the Rings (1954) trilogy and many adaptations.
Tolkien blends a peaceful world of the hobbits, with a dangerous quest that brings all different characters together. The novel was a success because it got readers to think about mysterious worlds and adventures with wizards. Tolkien was a visionary in the way he created maps for each of the worlds he had imagined. The book and later the films have been treasured by three generations.
The final debut novel choice in this blog is The Catcher in the Rye (1951) by J. D. Salinger. The Catcher in the Rye is the only novel by Salinger. It was partially published in serial form in 1945–46 before being novelized in 1951. The novel was viewed as controversial for its depiction of violence, excessive vulgar language and mentions of the occult. Holden Caulfield is the 16-year-old protagonist who lives in a rural community, then experiences life in New York City for a few days. He is grappling with the death of his brother, approaching adulthood and protecting his childhood innocence. Salinger creates a powerful novel that does not shy away from these difficult issues. It has continued to be read by all age groups over the 74 years since its publication.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about the three debut novels of these famous authors. I want to say a big thanks to everyone who reads this blog, and I am looking forward to providing interesting literary blogs over the coming year. Next month, I will focus on the way nature is preparing itself for the approaching winter and the beauty of autumn.
Work Cited-
Amazon. “Amazon”. Amazon. Date accessed: 5th August 2025. URL: amazon.co.uk/kill-mockingbird-harper-lee/dp/0099549484.
Daunt Books. “Daunt Books”. Daunt Books. Date accessed: 5th August 2025. URL: dauntbooks.co.uk/shop/books/the-hobbit-2/.
Lee, Harper. To Kill a Mockingbird. 1st Edition. Arrow Books. 2010.
Penguin. “Penguin”. Penguin. Date accessed: 5th August 2025. URL: penguin.co.uk/books/21251/the-catcher-in-the-rye-by-salinger-jd/9780241950425.
Thoughts on Papyrus. “Thoughts on Papyrus”. Thoughts on Papyrus. Date accessed: 5th August 2025. URL: thoughtsonpapyrus.com/2019/06/12/10-great-debut-novels/.