Harper Lee was born April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama, which had a population at the time of about 1,000 inhabitants. It's located in the southwestern part of the state.
Harper was the youngest of four children. Her mother's maiden name was Finch. Her father was a businessman and a lawyer.
During Harper's childhood, she spent most of her time playing with her brother (Edwin) who was six years older. In addition, during the summers, young Truman Capote (two years older and the future author of In Cold Blood) was also a playmate when he visited his family in Monroeville.
After graduating high school, Harper studied law at the University of Alabama. However, she left school one semester before completing her degree.
In 1949, Harper moved to New York City and devoted herself to writing. On July 11, 1960 (sixty-one years ago today), her manuscript, To Kill a Mockingbird, was published. It won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1961. To Kill a Mockingbird has remained a best seller to the present day.
"The plot and characters (of To Kill a Mockingbird) are loosely based on Lee's observations of her family (especially her brother and father), her neighbors and an event that occurred near her hometown in 1936 when she was ten."
Harper Lee's father defended Frank and Brown Ezell, two Black men accused of murder. They were convicted and hung.
"Despite dealing with the serious issues of rape and racial inequality, the novel is renowned for its warmth and humor. Atticus Finch, the narrator's father, has served as a moral hero for many readers and as a model of integrity for lawyers."
"In the twentieth century, To Kill a Mockingbird (was) probably the most widely read book dealing with race in America. (It) is extensively taught in schools in the United States with lessons that emphasize tolerance and decry prejudice."
Harper Lee died in her hometown on February 19, 2016 at the age of eighty-nine.
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