“To Kill A Mockingbird” Author Passes Away At 89

By Victoria Robertson on February 19, 2016

Photo Via: http://www.thestar.com

2016 has already brought with it too many deaths of legendary celebrities and, unfortunately, that count continues. Unlike icons David Bowie and Alan Rickman, the name isn’t quite as well known, though the loss is great, especially for those familiar with her singular, iconic work.

Harper Lee, the author of popular novel, “To Kill A Mockingbird,” passed away “peacefully in her sleep” Thursday night at the assisted living facility she’s been living in for decades.

The book, for the few of you that have never read it, is a semi-autobiographical commentary on racial injustice in the Jim Crow South (the 1960s).

The story follows a girl and her father as he represents a black man falsely accused and convicted of raping a white woman. The story is told from the daughter’s, Scout Finch’s, point of view.

The text has gone on to sell over 40 million copies worldwide, while also being translated into over 40 languages. If you haven’t read this one by the time you’re in college (which would be surprising, as the text is almost universally taught in the classroom), I highly suggest picking up a copy the next time you get a free minute.

Lee was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007 for the work.

About one year ago, Lee’s publisher, HarperCollins, discovered a manuscript that was written before “To Kill A Mockingbird,” featuring the same characters and the same themes. However, main characters depicted as good in the book had much different connotations in this manuscript, resulting in mixed reactions from the public.

Still, Lee didn’t react. In fact, she often declined interviews and rarely, if ever, discussed her personal life or her work. Sometimes, she would drop hints indicating there would be new works released soon, but there wasn’t ever a result.

Why the secrecy? Lee was reportedly fearful of “To Kill A Mockingbird’s” success, feeling the pressure to create another text that lived up to one already deemed a classic.

In 1966, Lee helped novelist Truman Capote, a childhood friend and neighbor, to revise the manuscript for “In Cold Blood,” yet another instant classic. Still, the work wasn’t completely her own, and the pressures of creating a classic would always be too much for the author to write anything else.

Perhaps one of the most secretive authors to ever captivate audiences, Lee was brilliant, modest and most of all, happy with her life. She lived her life exactly as she wanted to, not leaving room for anyone else to bring her down.

While it’s a shame that we couldn’t know more about her while she was alive, and that, for many, even the name Harper Lee doesn’t exactly ring any bells, it’s enough to know that she left this world with one of the greatest literary works of all time, one that will still be around for generations to come, whether being taught in the classroom or being read for personal enjoyment.

No matter the case, the text will live on, even if its author can’t.

Lee’s agent, Andrew Nurnberg, said about the late author:

“She was full of life, her mind and mischievous wit as sharp as ever. She was quoting Thomas More and setting me straight on Tudor history. We have lost a great writer, a great friend and a beacon of integrity.”

According to HarperCollins President, Michael Morrison:

“The world knows Harper Lee was a brilliant writer but what many don’t know is that she was an extraordinary woman of great joyfulness, humility and kindness. She lived her life the way she wanted to — in private — surrounded by books and the people who loved her.”

Harper Lee will be truly missed and, just as she lived her life, we can all hope that in death, Lee finds peace.

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