Harper Lee passes away, aged 89

[Charlie Brown]

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/feb/19/harper-lee-author-to-kill-a-mockingbird-dies-alabama

Harper Lee, whose 1961 novel To Kill a Mockingbird became a national institution and the defining text on the racial troubles of the American deep south, has died at the age of 89.

Lee, or Nelle as she was known to those close to her, had lived for several years in a nursing home less than a mile from the house in which she had grown up in Monroeville, Alabama – the setting for the fictional Maycomb of her famous book. The town's mayor, Mike Kennedy, confirmed the author's death.

Until last year, Lee had been something of a one-book literary wonder. To Kill a Mockingbird, her 1961 epic narrative about small-town lawyer Atticus Finch's battle to save the life of a black resident threatened by a racist mob, sold more than 40m copies around the world and earned her a Pulitzer prize. George W Bush awarded her the presidential medal of freedom in 2007.

But from the moment Mockingbird was published to almost instant success the author consistently avoided public attention and insisted that she had no intention of releasing further works. That self-imposed purdah ended abruptly when, amid considerable controversy, it was revealed a year ago that a second novel had been discovered, which was published as Go Set a Watchman in July 2015.

TKAM had a huge impact on me when I first read it, showing me the power a book can have for the world. It remains one of my favourite books, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who was fond of Harper Lee and TKAM. RIP.

 

[Bay]

I didn't get to read To Kill a Mockingbird, so I went ahead and bought it for myself. I have a minor problem with the ending, but it's not the time or place to say that. It's still a solid story overall and I understand why it's very influential the first time it was published. I pray for Harper's family through this tragic time.

 

[SteveTheFish]

R.I.P. Ms. Lee. You wrote my all time favorite book and gave me Atticus as a role model for my life.

 

[Hikamaru]

I may not be a huge bookworm, but it's easy to see why To Kill A Mockingbird was loved by so many book experts. May she rest in peace.