Harper Lee, Gregarious for a Day

[Kire]

Harper Lee, Gregarious for a Day
By GINIA BELLAFANTE
NYT.com
Published: January 30, 2006

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., Jan. 27 — Of all the functions at the president's mansion of the University of Alabama here, none has acquired the mystique surrounding a modest annual luncheon attended by high school students from around the state.

They come with cameras dangling on their wrists and dressed, respectfully, as if they were about to issue an insurance policy or anchor the news. An awards ceremony for an essay contest on the subject of "To Kill a Mockingbird," the occasion attracts no actor, politician or music figure. Instead, it draws someone to whom Alabamians collectively attach far more obsession: the author of the book itself, Harper Lee, who lives in the small town of Monroeville, Ala., one of the most reclusive writers in the history of American letters.

With more than 10,000,000 copies sold since it first appeared in 1960, "To Kill a Mockingbird" exists as one of the best-selling novels of all time. For decades, Ms. Lee has remained fiercely mindful of her privacy, politely but resolutely refusing to talk to the press and making only rare public appearances, in which she always declines to speak. She has maintained her resolve despite renewed attention in the wake of the film "Capote," in which Ms. Lee is portrayed as the moral conscience of her childhood friend Truman Capote; the coming "Infamous," another Capote movie in which Sandra Bullock plays Ms. Lee; and a biography of Ms. Lee scheduled for May.

But since the essay contest, sponsored by the Honors College at the University of Alabama, got going five years ago, Ms. Lee, who is 79, has attended the ceremony faithfully, meeting with the 50 or so winners from most of the state's school districts and graciously posing for pictures with the parents and teachers who accompany them.

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/30/books/30lee.html

[Stuckinthebush]

1. I had the opportunity to travel to Monroeville last summer

I was doing some research in the area, and had a few hours to kill. I walked over to the old courthouse which is a museum now devoted to "To Kill a Mockingbird".

It was like stepping back into time. The movie was shot on location in Monroeville and the courthouse. It was fascinating to spend an hour of so in the small museum and learn about Harper Lee's inspirations for her book.

Great book.

[OneBlueSky]

2. isn't there a theory that "Mockingbird" was actually written by . . .

Truman Capote as a gift to his friend, Harper Lee? . . . several researchers have noted the very strong resemblence in the writing styles, and apparently Lee and Capote were quite close . . . and Harper Lee never again wrote anything approaching the accomplishment of this novel . . .

[Kire]

3. they were childhood friends

and she never wrote anything else, period (according to the article)

I don't think there's any truth to that, though. She is just such a classy lady. That's my opinion.

[BlueIris]

7. Yeah, literature-lovin' friends of mine and I have discussed this a lot,

and there's just no way I believe that a) Capote wrote it, or b) anyone other than Harper Lee wrote it. I like what one of my friends, a long-time bookseller, said about the novel: "She really had one major story to tell in her life, and after she told it, she felt better. There was no need to try to tell more."

[Scout]

4. excellent, thank you very much!

I appreciate learning some more about this wonderful woman!

[Jim__]

5. I loved the book.

It's absolutely amazing as a first novel. It's too bad she never wrote anything else.

[BlueIris]

6. I adore "To Kill A Mockingbird," too.

So much that sometimes I'm almost glad she never wrote anything else. A second novel might have been a let down.