Monday, April 27, 2009

" Happy Birthday Nelle Harper Lee" The Literary Queen











Born April 28, 1926 in Monroeville, Alabama to Amasa Coleman Lee and Frances Cunningham Finch Lee who had no idea that the child they named Nelle
Harper Lee would grow up to be the Queen of the Literary World! Her 1960 book
" To Kill A Mockingbird" is perhaps the most widely read book of the 20th Century, it has been required reading in many high schools since the mid 1960s.


She has won many awards for this one book including, The Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and she was presented in 2007 with The Presidential Medal of Freedom Award for her contribution to the culture of the United States. She and this book are beloved by millions!


I read the book the first time at 12 years old. I read it again in 11th grade. I think all total I have read it 8 times.


I once owned a first addition, which I dreamed of getting signed and handing down through the generations of daughters in my family, it burned in my home in 1986. I dream of meeting Nelle so I can tell her how her book made me love the written word so much.



We all know how much she values her privacy, so I doubt that I will ever realize that dream. I would be scared to mention the book anyway but I'm a real positive person and I believe in miracles too, so I will hold to the dream! Those of you who read my post It's Now Or Never March 3rd, know how I feel about this.



So I ask you to join with me today in wishing our beloved author Nelle Harper Lee a wonderful 83rd Birthday and hopes for many more !! We love you NELLE !

21 comments:

Angie Ledbetter said...

Happy Birthday, dear author! Thank you for striking the keys. :)

Reader Wil said...

Hi Carol! I also love the book. I read it twice for my English certificates. My favourite writer was Daphne du Maurier. She wrote mainly about Cornwall, where my husband and I saw many of the places she wrote about. She knew a lot about history. I also love the books of Somerset Maugham, and many other British and American authors. But today it's Harper Lee! Happy birthday to her. Thanks for sharing, Carol!

Susan M. Bell said...

Amazingly, this book wasn't required at my high school. I read it for the first time just a few years ago, although I have been a fan of the movie since I was a kid. As a reader, this book amazed me. As a writer, this book amazed me. What a wonderful work and I am so glad she wrote it.

Happy Birthday to a great author.

Vicki Lane said...

What a great lady she is, indeed! Happy Birthday, Harper Lee!

Leesa said...

My favorite author is another Southerner, Flannery O'Connor. I wrote a short blog entry about her in March.

I loved To Kill a Mockingbird - before I read it, I was dreading it. Required reading with a title like that. But it was a gift in English class, and afterwards.

Janet said...

Happy Birthday, Harper Lee! If I was to write only one book, I'd hope for it to be as good as hers.

Kathryn Magendie said...

Happy Birthday to a lovely beautiful woman....I can understand that reclusive nature she has....!

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

Oh yes, Happy Birthday, Ms. Lee!!

NCmountainwoman said...

I have read and re-read this book more than any book I own. It is indeed a masterpiece.

Happy Birthday Harper Lee. And thanks for giving us Mockingbird.

Tess Kincaid said...

A big Happy Birthday to Ms. Nelle!! That is a fabulous photo of her on your sidebar.

Birdman said...

Just a staggering book! I remember when I first read it. I couldn't put the thing down. A one shot wonder... but what a 'shot'1 And you know, every time I catch a hint of the movie with G. Peck, it stops me in my tracks! I just have to watch!

Rosaria Williams said...

Thank you for reminding us of this beautiful book. The reclusive Harper Lee has confounded the literary world, for sure. Let us know if you ever succeed in getting a signed copy.

Dirt Princess said...

One of my all time favorites. How lucky is Alabama to have her come from our home state!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Great book... Great author, Carol. Happy Birthday to her!!!!

Have a great day.
Hugs,
Betsy

Becca's Dirt said...

Happy 83rd birthday Ms Lee. "To Kill a Mockingbird" is priceless. Thank you for your writings.

crochet lady said...

Wow, 83!

This book is one of my favorites and I have read it many times. I even had a portion of it memorized for a drama in High School, I think that's long gone now though.

Thanks for posting about this great book and author.

Missy B. said...

Hi Carol: You will love Tender Graces! I decided not to come to the conference this year, although I would love to meet you and Kathryn. Take lots of pictures!

On a side note, To Kill A Mockingbird was my very favorite book growing up. :) Happy Birthday Nelle Harper Lee :)

Sherry Austin said...

Happy birthday, Miss Lee, and thanks for a lovely blog, Miss Porch.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Really, probably the best book ever written. Everything is in there.

Renie Burghardt said...

Oh, I'm so late, Carol. PC problems and I haven't been online much. What a great tribute to a great author. I hope her birthday was wonderful!

Hugs,

Renie

Isabel said...

What an inspiration you are! I hope you had a wonderful birthday. May you continue to inspire the younger generations with your writing.