Author Profile

Harper Lee (born April 28, 1926), was an American writer known well for her literary works of To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) and Go Set a Watchman (2015). She has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her first novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, as well as the Presidential Medal of Freedom through her literary contributions to society. Her novel has now become the one of the greatest classical examples of American Literature, with a deep theme of déprimisme ("depressionism"), outlining the failures of society and the blatant racism that she had encountered with her experiences in Monroeville, Alabama, Lee’s hometown.

Early Life

She was the youngest out of four children of Frances Cunningham (Finch) and Amasa Coleman Lee, raised in Monroeville Alabama. She grew up as an introvert and a tomboy in her home town. Her father Frances Cunningham, was a member of the Alabama State Legislature as a lawyer while her mother is believed of suffering bipolar disorder. She was close to her two sisters, brother and her friend Truman Capote; an aspiring writer that will also later publish notable works. Capote visited her in Monroeville, every summer.

Education

She Attended a local public grammar school and high school in Monroeville, then continuing her studies in Huntingdon College, a female school where she first developed her interest in English Literature. Lee had not shared the interests of her cohort at her time in Huntingdon, she instead was a proud member of the glee club, and literary honor society until her transfer to the University of Alabama. While studying for her law degree, she wrote columns, satires and feature stories for the university paper. Though she did not complete her degree because she wanted to instead undertake a literary career as a writer in New York.

Early Career

Lee’s first job on her arrival in New York was a ticket agent for Eastern Airlines. She struggled with her finances until one Christmas Day, where her befriended colleagues gave Lee enough money to support her for a year, then Nelle Harper Lee began to write full time. With events that will shape her life, she conceived her first novel, To Kill a Mockingbird that was granted the Pulitzer Prize. Lee denies this famous work as an autobiography of her time spent in Monroeville though she states that her stories are heavily shaped by her experiences from childhood.

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

Nelle Harper Lee’s first success novel is To Kill a Mockingbird. This was published first and found by the Book-of-the-Month Club and the Literary Guild. The origins of the book differ from each source, some say it is a compilation of short relevant to her life while others agree with the statement that she had in fact sent these as a series of drafts to her publisher. In the end, she had taken a considerable amount of fame from “the bird” as her friends say she calls the novel, though she tends to keep herself anonymous.

The book was centered around a young girl’s early life set around the 30’s. Lee decided that it was too sensitive for the novel to be set in the then-current date of publishing as Civil Rights in the United States had just been gaining momentum in the past decade. also to relate to the widely Infamous "Scottsboro Boys" case that took place in the thirties. Alabama was chosen as the backdrop to the novel for a number of reasons. It was Lee’s home and was regarded as the worst offender of negroes out of all Confederate States, This where the Scottsboro boys allegedly committed their crime, where nine black men were charged of raping two white women while riding a train. This biased court case, though appealed to the US Supreme Court was a heinous example of the implemented set of “Jim Crow” Laws aimed at marginalizing the black population in the south where racism was rampant. All nine men were given the death penalty, making this notorious court case the main inspiration for the setting and story of Lee’s novel. This legal dispute is seen in the nature of Tom Robinson, falsely accused of raping Mayella Ewell. He is charged guilty of rape by an all male, white jury and is later shot in prison, contradicting the clear set of evidence presented by Atticus Finch to the jury as an attempt to refute Bob Ewell’s story. After the sentencing Bob Ewell felt humiliated; to satisfy his revenge, he ambushed and aimed to kill Both Jean Louise and Jeremy Finch, the children of Atticus. The themes are tied together with symbolism when Arthur Radley defended the children and killing Bob Ewell in the process.

The book received praise from readers and critics alike, some commented on Lee’s stance regarding racism in the United States, while others noted her remarkable form and literary technique, blending the themes of adulthood and childhood together as well as balancing humor and depression in the novel. Her book had won a number of awards alongside The Pulitzer Prize including the Brotherhood Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews (1961), the Alabama Library Association Award (1961), Bestsellers Paperback of the Year Award (1962), and additional designations such as a Literary Guild selection, a Reader's Digest condensed book selection, and an alternate for the Book of the Month Club. In 2002 Lee received the Alabama Humanities Award from the Alabama Humanities Foundation.

An adaptation was later produced in 1962, further stressing the success of the already renowned novel. Directed by Robert Mulligan and adapted by screenwriter Horton Foote, the adaptation stars Gregory Peck as Atticus and two Alabamians: Mary Badham and Phillip Alford as Scout and Jem respectively. The film received academy awards for their adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Later Years and Awards

Lee was suspected of working on a number of books, though these were never published. She helped her lifelong friend Truman Capote with his novel, In Cold Blood. But after he failed to acknowledge her contribution to the book, she grew angry at Capote’s betrayal. Despite this, they remain friends.

Nelle Harper Lee lived a private and quiet life, living between her hometown of Monroeville and New York. She remained active with the community and the church, as well as anonymously donating her long accumulated wealth as to notable charities and causes.

In 2007 President George W. Bush awarded Lee the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her "outstanding contribution to America's literary tradition" at a ceremony held in the White House.

‘Go Set a Watchman’

It is widely known that Lee’s first published novel is To Kill a Mockingbird. Although her first written novel was Go Set a Watchman, there was controversy among the overall themes and story of the book, Lee’s editor recommended that she revise the story and characters, in the span of two years, this became what is known as To Kill a Mockingbird.

The chronological precursor features Jean Louise “Scout” Finch as a 26 year old woman returning from New York back to Maycomb. Go Set a Watchman also features the main character Atticus, the moral example of the first book in a different light. He is seen to have a racist connotation towards all colored. having known ideologies and ties to the Ku Klux Klan.

Go Set a Watchman, as the canon successor to To Kill a Mockingbird has set Atticus as a completly different character, contrasting his earlier self in the first novel, this gives an insight to Lee’s creative process as well as controversy and debate over Atticus’ standing on equality and morality.