Harper Lee and Her Everlasting Legacy in American Literature

Who is Harper Lee?

Harper Lee was one of the most famous writers and authors of the American era. Lee was born on April 28, 1926, in Monroeville, Alabama, U.S., and died on February 19, 2016. She was an American writer nationally acclaimed for her novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” which became one of the classics of modern American Literature.

She assisted her close friend Truman Capote in his research for his book “In Cold Blood” in 1966. Her second novel “Go Set a Watchman” was an earlier draft of The Mockingbird, set at a later date which was published in July 2015 as a sequel.

Harper Lee’s Education

After attending public school in Monroeville she attended Huntingdon College, a private school for women in Montgomery, for a year and then transferred to the University of Alabama. After graduation, Lee studied at Oxford University. 

She returned to the University of Alabama to study law but withdrew six months before graduation. Harper Lee was a grade-school classmate of the young Truman Capote, with whom she maintained a friendship well into adulthood.

Literary Career

In 1949, a 24-year-old Lee relocated to New York City, where she held various jobs while devoting her spare time to writing. It was during this period that she commenced work on her most significant novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Lee completed an initial draft in 1957 and then spent the following year revising and rewriting. Ultimately, the novel was released in 1960, during the peak of the civil rights movement in the United States. To Kill a Mockingbird achieved immediate success and was honored with the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

Some Unknown Facts About Harper Lee

1. Harper Lee’s first name was Nelle. It was named after her grandmother’s name Ellen, spelled backwards. Lee dropped her given name when she published “To Kill a Mockingbird” to keep people from mispronouncing it “Nellie.”
2. She worked as a ticket reservation agent for an airline company in New York while writing her first novel.
3. The author had a very supportive friend in her life. who gave her one year’s wages as a Christmas gift. This resulted in the famous book “To Kill a Mockingbird”.
4. Harper Lee worked as a research assistant for her friend Truman Capote in his book “In Cold Blood”.
5. Lee was deeply influenced by her high school English teacher, Ms.Gladys Watson, a great admirer of grammar, who introduced Lee to British literature. Right before sending a final draft of To Kill a Mockingbird to her publishers, Lee asked Watson to proofread and critique it.  After the book was published, Lee flew Watson out to New York City for a visit and took her on a month-long vacation to England as a gesture of thanks.
6.  She overcame a huge injury to write the bestselling novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”. She had a severe injury in her right hand in 1965 when a pan caught on fire and exploded in the kitchen. The burn made it impossible for her to write or type and necessitated surgery in New York City.
7.     Harper Lee was a huge fan of Jane Austen, and once said that all she wanted was to be “the Jane Austen of South Alabama”. Lee’s love of British literature led her to Oxford University in the summer of 1948. As an exchange student studying twentieth-century literature, she fell in love with England and deepened her love for literature.
8. She published her second book “Go Set a Watchman” at the age of 89. This book was a sequel to her previous book “To Kill a Mockingbird”. This book was an instant and controversial bestseller and the surprising fact is, it is the first draft of her previous book “To Kill a Mockingbird”. 
9. When Lee lived in New York City, she became a big Mets fan. Even after moving back to Alabama, she often flew to New York to attend games. She also said that she did her best thinking while playing golf and was a huge football fan, especially of the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.
10. “To Kill a Mockingbird” was a bestseller for 88 weeks. It still sells a million copies a year and has been translated into 40 languages.

What is One Famous Quote from Harper Lee?

One famous quote by Harper Lee is,

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”

Atticus Finch says these lines in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. These words are well-known and often quoted, reflecting the novel’s themes of empathy, understanding and walking in someone else’s shoes.

Harper Lee and Her Continuing Legacy

Harper Lee’s Impact on American Literature 

Harper Lee’s created a limited yet powerful impact on the history of American literature and left an indelible mark on it. Lee’s landmark novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1961.

The exploration of themes like racial injustice and moral integrity in her novels has ensured its place in educational curricula and ongoing literary discussions. Her contributions were recognized with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007 and the National Medal of the Arts in 2010, highlighting her profound influence on America’s cultural and social landscape.

The Everlasting Legacy of “To Kill a Mockingbird”

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the greatest pinnacles of American literature, earning honors and awards and various recognitions for its powerful storytelling and compelling themes.

Told from the perspective of the young protagonist, Scout Finch, the book narrates the story of her father, Atticus Finch, who bravely defends Tom Robinson, a Black man wrongly accused of rape. 

The novel’s setting and characters are based on Lee’s own experiences, drawing inspiration from her father’s legal practice and her hometown in Alabama, which served as the basis for the fictional town of Maycomb. The book’s critical acclaim and its thoughtful exploration of social issues have firmly established its status as a foundational work in American literature.

The Controversial Release of “Go Set a Watchman”

In 2015, Go Set a Watchman was unexpectedly published, stirring considerable controversy. The book first thought of a sequel, later clarified as the earlier draft of “To Kill a Mockingbird”. 

The story takes place two decades after the events of the first book and follows an adult Scout Finch as she deals with the racial tensions of the 1950s. The release of the book led to questions about why Lee decided to publish more work, especially since she had been hesitant to do so in the past and was not in good health. Despite the controversy, there was no solid evidence of any pressure on Lee, and the book was eagerly received by an audience keen to read more from the reclusive author.

If you wish to know the list of controversial books in English literature, take a look at this article: Seven of the Most Controversial Books Published in English.

Final Note

Harper Lee, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, is a well-known figure in American literature. After gaining fame in the 1960s, she withdrew from public life. Her last public appearance was in November 2007, when she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from George Washington Bush. Despite having written only one book, she remains a popular American author.