Who was Harper Lee? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Nelle Harper Lee

Died At Age: 89

Family:

father: Amasa Coleman Lee

mother: Frances Cunningham Finch

siblings: Alice Lee

Novelists American Women

Height: 5'5" (165 cm), 5'5" Females

Died on: February 19, 2016

place of death: Monroeville, Alabama, United States

U.S. State: Alabama

More Facts

education: University Of Alabama

awards: Pulitzer Prize for Fiction - 1961
Presidential Medal of Freedom - 2007
Quill Award for Audio book - 2007

Recommended For You

1

Did Harper Lee write any other novels besides "To Kill a Mockingbird?"

Harper Lee only published one other novel during her lifetime, titled "Go Set a Watchman," which was actually written before "To Kill a Mockingbird."
2

What impact did "To Kill a Mockingbird" had on society?

"To Kill a Mockingbird" had a significant impact on society by raising awareness about racial inequality and promoting empathy and understanding across different social groups.
3

Was Harper Lee involved in the film adaptation of "To Kill a Mockingbird?"

Harper Lee had minimal involvement in the film adaptation of "To Kill a Mockingbird," but she did attend the premiere and was reportedly pleased with the final product.
4

How did Harper Lee's views on fame and publicity influence her decision to lead a private life?

Harper Lee shied away from the public eye and declined many interview requests, preferring to maintain her privacy and let her work speak for itself.

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Childhood & Early Life

She was born as Nelle Harper Lee to Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Cunningham Finch Lee on 28th April, 1926, in Monroeville city of Alabama. She was the youngest among four children and her siblings were named Alice, Louise and Edwin.

A friend of Lee who is also a renowned literary figure was Truman Capote. Lee and Capote are childhood mates. They befriended each other when Capote stayed at his maternal relatives’ house in Monroeville city, the same place where Lee resided.

She completed her schooling then in 1944, she enrolled at the ‘Huntingdon College’ located in Montgomery, the capital city of Alabama.

During the period 1945-49, she was a law student at the ‘University of Alabama’, and later, joined the ‘Oxford University’ as a student in the student exchange program.

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Career

Harper Lee went to New York six months before completing her course at the ‘Oxford University’, after she decided to become a writer.

During 1950s, she was employed at the ‘Eastern Air Lines’ and ‘British Overseas Airways’ and served as a reservation clerk, in order to gain financial support , and at the same time wrote stories. There she encountered her childhood friend Truman and also got acquainted with renowned writer Michael Brown and also befriended his wife Joy Williams Brown.

The Christmas of 1956 turned out to be very special for Lee because the Browns became her Santa and presented her with the best gift she could expect. They gave her an envelope which contained a sum of money so that she could resign from the airlines job and devote all her time to writing.

She was highly obliged at this friendly gesture and concentrated on her writing career with renewed zeal so that she did not disappoint her friends who had so much faith in her capabilities.

Her first and only novel till date, ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, is regarded as a masterpiece and the author has been entitled to many awards after the publication of this novel.

This book predominantly had the theme of racial discrimination which Lee witnessed during her childhood in Monroeville.

This book was initially not a novel but a series of stories when she approached Tay Hohoff, who worked as an editor at the ‘J. B. Lippincott & Co.’ publishing house. Tay helped her weave her stories into a well-knit novel and after a rigorous hard work of around two years; this novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, was completed.

In 1959, she accompanied her friend Truman in his research for the novel ‘In Cold Blood’ which was based on a true murder incident. She worked as an efficient assistant to Capote, gathering interviews of the people in that locality.

In the year 1960, the novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird was published with the author’s pseudo name Harper Lee, as she dropped her first name Nelle.

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This great literary piece became a bestseller soon after it hit the book stores and also received immense acclamation from readers and critics alike. The ‘Library Journal’, which is a trade publication for librarians, conducted a poll and according to that ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ has been selected as the ‘Best Novel of the Century’.

This book is still in print and has millions of copies available making it easily accessible to readers.

After a hiatus of about sixty years, Harper Lee has apparently declared to release her second novel entitled ‘Go Set a Watchman’ has been scheduled to hit the book stores in July 2015.

Major Works

Harper Lee published one novel in her career and this novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ has become one of the best literary pieces that the world has ever been gifted with. It deals with the issue of racism and the autobiographical elements make it more vivid, and probably, this is one of the reasons behind the novel being a bestseller. The setting of the novel is loosely based on the hometown of the writer, and while one character possibly represents Lee, the other apparently is a portrayal of her friend Truman.

Awards & Achievements

Harper Lee's only published novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ was awarded the ‘Pulitzer Prize’ in the ‘Fiction’ category in the year 1961.

She was awarded with the ‘Presidential medal of Freedom’ on November 5, 2007. The honor was conferred upon her by former U.S. President George W. Bush.

Personal Life & Legacy

Harper Lee shared a life-long friendship with the renowned author Truman Capote and they both were friends even before they knew that they would take up writing as a profession and become significant literary figures.

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She is said to have maintained a private life and as such, little is known about her as a person. However, it is believed that the character of Scout in her novel has been moulded in accordance with the writer herself and knowing Scout would probably provide the readers an insight into Harper Lee.

Harper Lee died in her sleep on February 19, 2016, at the age of 89.

Her novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ has been made into a movie in the year 1962, by the same name and like the novel, the movie too earned appreciation, and even won three ‘Academy Awards’.

This movie has also earned position in many significant lists such as the ‘National film Registry’ and ‘Great American Movies of All Time’ list made ‘American Film Institute’ on its 10th anniversary.

Facts About Harper Lee

Harper Lee was friends with fellow author Truman Capote, and she served as his research assistant while he was working on his famous book "In Cold Blood."

Despite the success of her novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," Harper Lee only published one other book in her lifetime, "Go Set a Watchman," which was actually written before her iconic novel.

Harper Lee was known for being fiercely private and rarely gave interviews or made public appearances, preferring to let her work speak for itself.

She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007 for her contribution to literature and for addressing important social issues in her writing.

In her later years, Harper Lee continued to live a quiet life in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, where she was beloved by the community.

Harper Lee Biography

You wanted to know

Did Harper Lee write any other novels besides "To Kill a Mockingbird?"

What impact did "To Kill a Mockingbird" had on society?

Was Harper Lee involved in the film adaptation of "To Kill a Mockingbird?"

How did Harper Lee's views on fame and publicity influence her decision to lead a private life?