Harper Lee

"Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing."

Nelle Harper Lee (April 28th, 1926 - February 19th, 2016) was an American novelist, best known as the writer of the 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird and its sequel ''Go Set a Watchman. ''Her novel went on to win the Pulitzer Piece prize and an 1962 film adaptation. The novel itself was inspired by Lee's childhood years, and how hatred and racism had changed her life.

She won the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2007 as well as several honour degrees, but throughout most of her life, she was known to be fiercly private and hardly ever made any public appearances. Her close friend was Truman Capote, who she had helped do some research for his 1966 novel Cold Blood. Even in death, Lee has often been regarded as one of America's greatest writers and her 1960 novel bearing the status of a masterpiece in American literature.

Early life
Nelle Harper Lee was born on April 28th, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama, USA to Ambrose Coleman Lee, a lawyer and a member of the Alabama State Legislature, and Frances Finch Lee. The youngest of 4 children, Lee grew up as a tomboy in a small town and enjoyed playing outdoors. She loved reading and was a tough, mischievous child. One of her closest childhood friends was Truman Persons (who would later become the famous writer Truman Capote), and would defend him from any other children who tried to bully him. Both Capote and Lee would form an everlasting friendship later in life.

At one point, her father Ambrose was assigned to defend 2 black men accused of murdering a white storekeeper. But despite his best efforts, the 2 defendants were convicted and later executed. This along with several autobiographical events would have an inspiration on Lee.

Education
Harper attended the local elementary school, but began to have an interest in classic literature by the time she was in high school. She attended the Monroe County High School in Monroeville, and after graduating she attended at a private female school Huntingdon College for about a year. Afterwards, she attended at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.