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I think everyone will agree that this has been a year of shock and sadness, with a uniquely high number of celebrity deaths. While most have been public figures within the music industry, and some have been relatively young, probably the most outstanding death in the literary world was that of Harper Lee in February. Just two months before her 90th birthday, Lee, born Nelle Harper Lee, died in her sleep on 19 February and was laid to rest in a small ceremony the following day.
To kill a mockingbird, arguably one of the best works of literary fiction and Lee's first novel, earned the talented young writer great critical acclaim, including the prestigious Pulitzer Price for Fiction in 1961. The book then spent many years in classrooms around the world while school pupils studied the story as part of their set English curriculum. "I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird. I was hoping for a quick and merciful death at the hands of the reviewers but, at the same time, I sort of hoped someone would like it enough to give me encouragement," said Lee in a 1964 interview with Newquist. On the whole, Lee shyed away from the public eye, approving virtually no interview requests. This prompted rumours of new works in progress but, until the publication of Go set a watchman in 2015, the bulk of Lee's writings were a couple of half-finished drafts and some essays. While Watchman was published some 55 years after Lee's award-winning Mockingbird, it has been confirmed to be the first draft of the latter and is ultimately a story about conscience
Although Lee downplayed the autobiographical aspect of Mockingbird, her childhood neighbour, fellow novelist and inspiration for the book's character Dill, Truman Capote, confirmed the true existence of much of the book's plot, including the dungeon-dwelling character Boo Radley who, although harmless, his reclusive existence sparked much terror among the town's children.
The fact that Lee's only two published novels were essentially the same story, lends credence to the notion that the best writing comes from personal experience.
To kill a mockingbird, arguably one of the best works of literary fiction and Lee's first novel, earned the talented young writer great critical acclaim, including the prestigious Pulitzer Price for Fiction in 1961. The book then spent many years in classrooms around the world while school pupils studied the story as part of their set English curriculum. "I never expected any sort of success with Mockingbird. I was hoping for a quick and merciful death at the hands of the reviewers but, at the same time, I sort of hoped someone would like it enough to give me encouragement," said Lee in a 1964 interview with Newquist. On the whole, Lee shyed away from the public eye, approving virtually no interview requests. This prompted rumours of new works in progress but, until the publication of Go set a watchman in 2015, the bulk of Lee's writings were a couple of half-finished drafts and some essays. While Watchman was published some 55 years after Lee's award-winning Mockingbird, it has been confirmed to be the first draft of the latter and is ultimately a story about conscience
Although Lee downplayed the autobiographical aspect of Mockingbird, her childhood neighbour, fellow novelist and inspiration for the book's character Dill, Truman Capote, confirmed the true existence of much of the book's plot, including the dungeon-dwelling character Boo Radley who, although harmless, his reclusive existence sparked much terror among the town's children.
The fact that Lee's only two published novels were essentially the same story, lends credence to the notion that the best writing comes from personal experience.