Harper Lee was born on this day in 1926 in Monroeville, AL.

“Best way to clear the air is to have it all out in the open.”

“Atticus told me to delete the adjectives and I'd have the facts.”

“Before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself.”

Funny story from Gregory Peck, describing the first day of filming and Harper Lee's reaction to the scene:

Very Cool stuff! Thanks

Very interesting interview with her below. She discusses southern life and what it was like growing up in a small southern town when she did. For those who may not know, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' was released in 1960. This interview, recorded in 1964, was one of the last she ever gave, and the only recorded interview where she discusses the book. She completely shunned all media - living in Monroeville attending her small church, giving no interviews or comments for over 50 years, until she passed away.

Yes...shunned public interviews and comments.

But interestingly so, she and Pat Dye developed a friendship late in her life and after he had finished coaching at Auburn and they exchanged some correspondence and visits....apparently becoming fast friends.

https://www.al.com/sports/2016...friendship_with.html


Thanks for the post!

TKAM is on audiobook and narration is excellent by Sissy Spacek. Free on Libby.

One of my top 3 movies, I am horrified this is novel and movie is now banned or under fire in so many places. This resonates for many reasons, not the last I grew up when I had did not see color but my parents and grandparents had seen color…and they changed. Imagine. My great aunt born in 1897 called black people “darkies” and “colored” but had no animosity - just ignorance. This changed over time meeting with our friends, same stories with my parents. To see differences and value differently is racism - and pains me what I see today from the left.

My kids know this novel, and Atticus and Scout from the movie. They know “why” and that Tom Robinson faced an uphill battle…and more importantly to stand up against any type of racism…not the fascist BS spouted by the media and left. Thank you for these vignettes.

quote:

Originally posted by x0225095:
Yes...shunned public interviews and comments.

But interestingly so, she and Pat Dye developed a friendship late in her life and after he had finished coaching at Auburn and they exchanged some correspondence and visits....apparently becoming fast friends.

https://www.al.com/sports/2016...friendship_with.html


Thanks for the post!

Dye told that story years ago on Finebaum's radio show and the old coach kept referring to it as To Kill A Blackbird. Hilarious. And a cool story.

I've not read the novel but the film is a very fine thing, imbued with humanity.

The thing is, though, Lee's remarks in her later life about her character of Atticus...