We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Biographies

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Who is Harper Lee?

By Venus D.
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 14,718
Share

Harper Lee is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Born on 28 April 1926, Harper Lee almost became a lawyer. She attended the University of Alabama Law School, but left with only semester remaining to receive her degree.

After attending Oxford University for a year, Lee went to New York City to pursue a writing career in 1950. Within ten years, she had finished her first and only novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. In 1961, a year after it was first published, the novel went on to win a Pulitzer Prize in fiction. It remains a great favorite. In 1999, the Library Journal voted To Kill a Mockingbird “the best novel of the century.”

Set in Alabama, and very biographical, the story of To Kill a Mockingbird is narrated from the perspective of a young girl named Scout. Much of the story revolves around the trial of Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman named Mayella Ewell, which interrupts Scout’s quiet world of child play. Ultimately, the novel is about a young girl learning about the world around her, especially through conversations with her father Atticus, symbolic of honor, integrity, and courage. Atticus is the accused man’s lawyer, and while he is not able to save the defendant, his pursuit of the case teaches Scout valuable life lessons, including the importance of holding on to one’s values in the face of opposition.

In addition to the novel's literary success, its film adaptation was warmly received. Gregory Peck not only won an Oscar for his performance as Atticus, but he also became a life long friend of Harper Lee. Harper Lee was also friends with author Truman Capote, who is the basis for the character Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee was the inspiration for a character in Capote’s book, Other Voices, Other Rooms. It has also been rumored that Capote wrote To Kill a Mockingbird.

Despite such accusations, Harper Lee continues to receive accolades for her beloved novel. When receiving an honorary degree at Notre Dame, Harper Lee was treated to the sight of all graduating students holding a copy of her novel. She has also been admitted to the National Council of Arts.

While speculations of another novel continue, Harper Lee continues to be reclusive. In an interview a few years after the success of To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee explained that one of her goals in writing the novel was to talk about life in a Southern town, the pure simplicity of which should be celebrated and its loss mourned. To Kill a Mockingbird did not come about through the need to create a great work of art. Instead, it was a story that Lee felt needed to be told.

The success of her novel, while delightful, slightly frightened Lee and probably continues to do so to some extent. She rarely gives interviews, and her public appearances consist mainly of attending receptions for the winners of a writing contest named after her. This behavior remains the same despite increasing curiosity about Harper Lee after movies such as Infamous, which are based on her life. In an interview with the New York Times, she has said that much of her time is spent declining requests for interviews. Despite the availability of her novel, which has been printed in several languages, Harper Lee has shunned the limelight for over four decades.

Share
PublicPeople is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon72260 — On Mar 22, 2010

Harper Lee was not a recluse. she didn't want to be interviewed and I don't blame her!

By tiger69 — On Dec 06, 2008

I would like to know who did the voice in the movie To Kill A Mockingbird.

Share
https://www.publicpeople.org/who-is-harper-lee.htm
Copy this link
PublicPeople, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

PublicPeople, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.