Harper Lee

Harper Lee, the author of the renowned classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird, is one of the most critically acclaimed and beloved authors of the 20th century. Her magnum opus was praised for its engaging story, witty dialogue, and its thoughtful exploration of the effect of racial and social injustice. Even nearly sixty years after its initial publication in 1960, To Kill a Mockingbird still captivates readers with its timeless themes and timeless writing.

Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 28, 1926, in Monroeville, Alabama. She was the youngest of four children born to Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Cunningham Finch Lee. Lee’s father was a lawyer and her mother had attended law school but did not practice due to her family’s wishes. As a child, Lee was an avid reader and aspired to become a writer. She wrote her first novel, a strange, Gothic fantasy, when she was only fourteen.

During Lee's time at the University of Alabama, she studied English and wrote for the college's humor magazine. She continued her study of the law in Oxford, England, before returning to Alabama in 1949 to work as a reservations clerk for Eastern Airlines in New York City. Even at this point, Lee was already dreaming of writing a novel about the “harshness and beauty of life in the Deep South”.

In the summer of 1950, Lee’s childhood friend, Truman Capote, invited her to join him in Holcomb, Kansas to investigate the brutal murder of the Clutter family, where he was researching a non-fiction book that would become In Cold Blood. Lee’s experience in Holcomb had a significant influence on her writing for To Kill a Mockingbird, including the central theme of justice in a small, rural town.

In 1955, Lee finally made the decision to focus solely on novel-writing and move to New York City. She worked full-time as an airline reservations clerk while she wrote her novel during her free time. In 1956, during a Christmas vacation, Lee’s friend, novelist Michael Brown, suggested the title To Kill a Mockingbird.

Also in 1956, Lee was working with New York City literary agent Maurice Crain, who recommended her novel to publishers. The novel was finally accepted by J. B. Lippincott & Co. and released in July of 1960. It was an immediate success, becoming an international best-seller and having over 30 million copies in print by the year 2020. Moreover, it was named one of the best novels of the century by Time Magazine.

To Kill a Mockingbird won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for fiction and eventually spawned a classic film adaptation released in 1962. In 2007, Lee was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, for her contribution to literature. While she was offered millions of dollars for a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee turned down all requests, being content with the success of her one published novel.

Harper Lee passed away at the age of eighty-nine in 2016. While her books may have been few, her influence on literature and culture has been far-reaching. To Kill a Mockingbird, along with its many film, television, and stage adaptations is a beloved classic that still resonates with readers today. Harper Lee will undoubtedly remain one of America’s most beloved authors.