Background of finch family.

The Finches call Maycomb, Alabama their home. Through the years, their ancestors made a name for themselves within the small community. For many years, the family lived at Finch's Landing and made money from cotton. Atticus turns his back on that lifestyle and becomes an attorney, while he younger brother became a doctor.

After law school, Atticus returns to Maycomb and sets up his law practice. Scout describes their small town in the thirties. One of her most vivid descriptions is contained early in the book. "A day was twenty-four hours but seemed longer. There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy and no money to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb."