Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Henry Holt and Co. (2006), 352 pages
Description
To Kill a Mockingbird, the twentieth century's most widely read American novel, still sells a million copies yearly. Yet despite the book's perennial popularity, its creator remains a somewhat mysterious figure. Journalist Shields brings to life the warmhearted, high-spirited, and occasionally hardheaded woman who gave us two of American literature's most unforgettable characters--Atticus Finch and his daughter, Scout--and who contributed to the success of her lifelong friend Truman Capote's masterpiece, In Cold Blood. At the center of the book is Lee's struggle to create her famous novel. But her life contains many other highlights: her girlhood as a tomboy in overalls in tiny Monroeville, Alabama; the murder trial that made her father's reputation and inspired her great work; her journey to Kansas as Capote's ally and research assistant on the story of the Clutter murders; the surrogate family she found in New York City.--From publisher description.… (more)
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Media reviews
[Lee] didn't cooperate with this biography, which relies on early interviews and diligent research, but the glimpses we get are tantalizing.
User reviews
LibraryThing member katylit
Very good biography of Harper Lee from her childhood to present day. Lee only wrote the one book, [To Kill a Mockingbird], which was wildly successful. But the success totally intimidated her about trying to follow up with another book. Interesting woman, interesting life. I found her philosophy
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quoted at the end to be a good thought for everyone. Show Less
LibraryThing member delphica
(#40 in the 2007 book challenge)
This is a biography of Harper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird, and the author himself starts off by explaining that it isn't very long because there isn't a whole lot of information out there. The bulk of the information is from Lee's research trip with Truman
Grade: A-
Recommended: To fans of To Kill A Mockingbird, provided they do not mind learning more mundane things about the circumstances by which it came about. Harper Lee does not do interviews or releases, so this is unauthorized. For the most part, I found it fairly respectful.
This is a biography of Harper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird, and the author himself starts off by explaining that it isn't very long because there isn't a whole lot of information out there. The bulk of the information is from Lee's research trip with Truman
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Capote while he was working on In Cold Blood, which makes sense because Capote cultivated any and all interest in his work and his person, and from the rush of publicity for the To Kill A Mockingbird movie, which also makes sense because it was someone's job to be pushing the publicity. Other than that, things are very sparse, and the author resorts to filling in meandering details about the locations and time periods that intersect with Ms. Lee's life. If, like me, you are a person who enjoys getting lots of information about a typical dormitory at a typical Southern women's college was like, then this is fine, although during these parts you could easily forget you are reading a biography of Harper Lee. This book does provide a bit of detail about the true life events that inspired episodes in To Kill A Mockingbird, and basic information about Ms. Lee's writing process. It was very odd to me to realize that I had never given much thought to these things before -- other than knowing trivia such as that Truman Capote became Dill, I hadn't focused on questions like too much, and I am the kind of person who usually likes to pursue all sorts of issues like this with books I hold dear -- which editor's hands were on it, who among the author's friends were asked to provide comments, which places and characters can be found back in the real world and how similar are they ... But I hadn't previously given any of these things more than a passing thought with To Kill A Mockingbird, it seems so perfect that surely it must have materialized fully formed, or at the very least, someone moving pen on paper while pleasantly reciting the story word for word in a strong Southern accent, "When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow ..." and continuing on without interruption until the end. Unfortunately, this is not a view that is terribly respectful of the author, as we learn that she took great deliberations to slowly and methodically and skillfully outline and write and rewrite and edit, but I hope it is reflective of the very great awe in which I hold the finished product.Grade: A-
Recommended: To fans of To Kill A Mockingbird, provided they do not mind learning more mundane things about the circumstances by which it came about. Harper Lee does not do interviews or releases, so this is unauthorized. For the most part, I found it fairly respectful.
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LibraryThing member edwinbcn
Charles J. Shields is clearly an accomplished biographer, but it seems he must have underestimated the difficulty of the task of taking on a biography of Harper Lee, given the paucity of material available to accomplish that task. Harper Lee, born in 1926, is a reclusive author who never published
However, Mockingbird. A portrait of Harper Lee does still contain some material that make reading it interesting. Firstly, the opening chapters of the book give a wonderful description of the languid lifestyle in the South of the United States. The biography also reveals and describes in detail the longstanding and personal friendship since childhood between Harper Lee and Truman Capote, as they grew up in the same small town. Shields describes numerous influences in the works of Harper Lee and Capote, showing how the figure in each other's works under a thin disguise. The most spectacular contribution are the chapters which describe the help Harper Lee gave Truman Capote in doing research for his seminal non-fiction novel In Cold Blood. In effect, the writing of In Cold Blood would not have been possible in its current form if it had not been for Harper Lee.
Obviously, Mockingbird. A portrait of Harper Lee describes the success of Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, and the effect it had on its author. However, the biography remains vague as to why Harper Lee decided to withdraw from public life, and one would expect more detailed description of how that situation came about.
According to later chapters in the biography, Harper Lee is known to have worked or been working on further novellistic work, but little is known about it and none has been published so far. The last part of Mockingbird. A portrait of Harper Lee are vague, and all based on speculation, that does not bring anything significant to light. Supposedly, readers and scholars will have to wait till the estate is executed, to discover an personal details about the author and her ideas before long. It is very unlikely that any other biography could offer more insight that this biography, and therefore, despite its necessary short-comings, Mockingbird. A portrait of Harper Lee is probably the best biography around.
Recommended for readers interested in Harper Lee and particularly her relation to Truman Capote.
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another book after her best-seller To Kill a Mockingbird. For more than fivedecades, since publication in 1960, Harper Lee has consistently refused to make speeches or give interviews. This lack of material shows in the biography, which is therefore only moderately successful.However, Mockingbird. A portrait of Harper Lee does still contain some material that make reading it interesting. Firstly, the opening chapters of the book give a wonderful description of the languid lifestyle in the South of the United States. The biography also reveals and describes in detail the longstanding and personal friendship since childhood between Harper Lee and Truman Capote, as they grew up in the same small town. Shields describes numerous influences in the works of Harper Lee and Capote, showing how the figure in each other's works under a thin disguise. The most spectacular contribution are the chapters which describe the help Harper Lee gave Truman Capote in doing research for his seminal non-fiction novel In Cold Blood. In effect, the writing of In Cold Blood would not have been possible in its current form if it had not been for Harper Lee.
Obviously, Mockingbird. A portrait of Harper Lee describes the success of Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, and the effect it had on its author. However, the biography remains vague as to why Harper Lee decided to withdraw from public life, and one would expect more detailed description of how that situation came about.
According to later chapters in the biography, Harper Lee is known to have worked or been working on further novellistic work, but little is known about it and none has been published so far. The last part of Mockingbird. A portrait of Harper Lee are vague, and all based on speculation, that does not bring anything significant to light. Supposedly, readers and scholars will have to wait till the estate is executed, to discover an personal details about the author and her ideas before long. It is very unlikely that any other biography could offer more insight that this biography, and therefore, despite its necessary short-comings, Mockingbird. A portrait of Harper Lee is probably the best biography around.
Recommended for readers interested in Harper Lee and particularly her relation to Truman Capote.
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LibraryThing member elbakerone
In Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, Charles Shields takes the reader on the journey of the life of one of America's best loved writers. From the early days as the daughter of an Alabama lawyer, the reader discovers the intimate details that inspired Nelle Harper Lee to write To Kill a
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Mockingbird. Shields takes the story further, exploring Lee's relationship with Truman Capote, her shyness in the spotlight of success and her stymied attempts at a second novel. Well written and beautifully crafted, Mockingbird is a gem for all lovers of biography. Show Less
LibraryThing member GMac
Explores the life and literary career of Harper Lee, the author of "To kill a mockingbird," describing her struggle to create her famed novel, and her contributions to her lifelong friend Truman Capote's "In cold blood."
LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
I learned some new things about the writing and production of "to kill a mockingbird" - I didn't realize it had such autobiographical overtones, for one. I came away from the book feeling that it was a shame that her first book was such an overwhelming success, because the book suggests that Ms.
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Lee didn't feel that she could live up to her first. As a biography of her whole life, it fails, because it is so sketchy after the publication & movie making of TKAMB. But maybe the title of the book is more apt than you might think. It is more a biography of the novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member brilliantstella
Such a wonderful hagiography of the reclusive Lee. It was so intriguing to learn that Lee in no way endorsed this biography, yet that circumstance does not taint Shields love for her life. It is written in a narrative style and extremely engaging. Though every time you feel as though you are
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getting closer to Lee that initial warning of her refusal to participate in the book's writing, yanks you back and makes you that much more critical. Show Less
LibraryThing member corrmorr
It was very satisfying to read about this mysterious woman. She had one book in her and what a book it is. Her biography reveals the importance of those who provided support for her and describes her considerable role in Capote's most famous work.
LibraryThing member kanata
A wonderfully written book on Harper Lee. Instantly became one of my favourite biographies. A great job of dipping into her life and showing it yet at the same time showing restraint and granting her the privacy that she desires and rightfully deserves (as everyone in public does). Hopefully Miss
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Lee sees it that way as well. Show Less
LibraryThing member sleahey
Although somewhat dry, this is a fascinating account of Harper Lee's childhood, her family relationships, and her friendship with Truman Capote. It's an unauthorized biography, definitely sympathetic to Lee, well-researched, and loaded with anecdotes about famous people and the publishing world.
LibraryThing member KathyWoodall
Very interesting book. If you ever wondered who Nelle Harper Lee is, this is the book to read.
LibraryThing member Becky221
(Read in 2011.) A so-so book, but I did learn that Harper Lee was very involved in the interviewing for Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood." The book painted a mostly unflattering picture of Capote.
LibraryThing member mldavis2
I found this an interesting account of the life of the reclusive author Harper Lee. The biographer was not able to interview Ms. Lee directly, so nearly all of the material was obtained from files or interviews with people who had known her or had some measure of contact.
It is also somewhat unusual
It is also somewhat unusual
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in that a good deal of the narrative is focused on Lee's association with Truman Capote and their coordinated writing of "In Cold Blood." Nevertheless, it is a fine work of research and an interesting look into the life of an author who was famous for the only book she published. Show Less
LibraryThing member BookConcierge
A wonderful, balanced biography of Nelle Harper Lee. I thought the author did a remarkable job of fairly portraying this reclusive author's life.
LibraryThing member Cherylk
I read both the book and watched the movie, How to Kill a Mockingbird. The book and movie are a classic and rightly so. For a child actor, Harper Lee I thought she delivered just as a powerful performance as Gregory Lee did in the movie. Although this is really about the extent of my knowledge
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about Harper Lee. I am familiar with hearing and seeing the release of Harper's book, Go Set a Watchman but I have not read the book. Having admiration for Harper Lee I was looking forward to reading this book and learning who Harper Lee was from Scout to Go Set a Watchman. I thought that for the task that Mr. Shields had in front of him with not being able to interview his subject matter for this book, he did a fine job of gathering as much information as he could from others close to Harper Lee. Yet as I was reading this book not a lot of the details were sticking with me. It was like just reading fact cards which are fine but not that exciting. Despite my feelings about this book, I still will be a fan of Harper Lee. Show Less
LibraryThing member fredreeca
As a life long reader, I am sad to say, I was late to the To Kill a Mockingbird party. I was never required to read it in school. So, I never did. I finally read this book in my late 30’s. What an impact! I am glad I waited to read this. I feel the book had more meaning to me because of my age.
Mockingbird – A Portrait of Harper Lee added so much to my repsect for Harper Lee. This book takes you from the beginning to the end. Her struggles as an unknown writer to one of fame and fortune are all covered.
Her life with Truman Capote is covered in depth. He was such a large impact and influence on her as a person, as well as a writer. She as well, was probably his only friend. I am going to have to read more of his works.
Even if you are not a fan of Harper Lee, this is a great read. I enjoyed so many aspects. Old Hollywood, how publishing worked and historical murders are all recreated.
Harper Lee became more real to me as I read this book. I understand more about her life and her struggles. And what made her such an outstanding character and such a talent.
I received this novel from the publisher and Netgalley for a honest review
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After I finished the novel, I immediately rented the movie. Once again, I had to see what all the fuss was about. And the fuss….was very well done! Mockingbird – A Portrait of Harper Lee added so much to my repsect for Harper Lee. This book takes you from the beginning to the end. Her struggles as an unknown writer to one of fame and fortune are all covered.
Her life with Truman Capote is covered in depth. He was such a large impact and influence on her as a person, as well as a writer. She as well, was probably his only friend. I am going to have to read more of his works.
Even if you are not a fan of Harper Lee, this is a great read. I enjoyed so many aspects. Old Hollywood, how publishing worked and historical murders are all recreated.
Harper Lee became more real to me as I read this book. I understand more about her life and her struggles. And what made her such an outstanding character and such a talent.
I received this novel from the publisher and Netgalley for a honest review
Show Less
LibraryThing member hardlyhardy
Sometimes success can come too soon, such as in the case of the high school football star who isn't quite good enough to land a college scholarship. The best years of his life can be over by the time he's 18, making the rest of his life seem anticlimactic.
Harper Lee was several years older than
Lee did continue writing after "To Kill a Mockingbird" was published in 1960, but nothing she worked on seemed good enough to her after that debut. She spent a decade or more writing a second novel, also set in the South of her youth, and at one time it was even reported to be ready to go to her publisher. That never happened. She worked for a long time on a nonfiction crime book, something on the order of "In Cold Blood," on which she worked with her childhood friend Truman Capote (the model for Dill in "Mockingbird"). (Shields writes that Lee's efforts made "In Cold Blood" possible, though Capote, perhaps jealous of his friend's success, never gave her proper credit.)
In the end, she simply gave up and became something of a recluse, shunning interviews with reporters and attention from adoring fans. Her lone book continues to produce enough income to live on, though she lives much more simply than would be necessary. Never married, she lives alone, winters in Alabama and summers in New York City.
Asked once why she never wrote another book, Lee replied, "I said what I had to say." That may have been an oversimplification, but still her one book said much more than what most of us can say in a lifetime.
Harper Lee was several years older than
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that when "To Kill a Mockingbird" was published. Even so she was not prepared for its instant success and didn't know how to deal with life afterward. She had planned to make writing her life's work, yet she never published another book. Why not? Charles J. Shields addresses that question in "Mockingbird," his biography of Harper Lee, known to her friends as Nelle.Lee did continue writing after "To Kill a Mockingbird" was published in 1960, but nothing she worked on seemed good enough to her after that debut. She spent a decade or more writing a second novel, also set in the South of her youth, and at one time it was even reported to be ready to go to her publisher. That never happened. She worked for a long time on a nonfiction crime book, something on the order of "In Cold Blood," on which she worked with her childhood friend Truman Capote (the model for Dill in "Mockingbird"). (Shields writes that Lee's efforts made "In Cold Blood" possible, though Capote, perhaps jealous of his friend's success, never gave her proper credit.)
In the end, she simply gave up and became something of a recluse, shunning interviews with reporters and attention from adoring fans. Her lone book continues to produce enough income to live on, though she lives much more simply than would be necessary. Never married, she lives alone, winters in Alabama and summers in New York City.
Asked once why she never wrote another book, Lee replied, "I said what I had to say." That may have been an oversimplification, but still her one book said much more than what most of us can say in a lifetime.
Show Less
LibraryThing member lschiff
This was a Christmas present from my folks and was a wonderful read. A great insight into this incredible book.
Awards
Southern Book Prize (Winner — Nonfiction — 2007)
Christian Science Monitor Best Book (Biography — 2006)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2006
Physical description
352 p.; 6.42 inches
ISBN
073947846X / 9780739478462