Harper Lee in the Daily Mail
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Normally I wouldn’t touch the Daily Mail with a barge pole, but there was an interesting article about Harper Lee in there today. I hesitate to say ‘interview’ since she doesn’t actually answer any questions, it’s more of a fleeting sighting. However, it’s a fascinating profile of one of the world’s most lauded authors who whilst being a massive critical and commercial success, is also a recluse. And only wrote a single book. Have a read here.
No. 1 — June 30th, 2010 at 07:48
What a fascinating article. I was particularly caught by the different perceptions of Alice and Harper when it comes to their mother. The fourteen year difference may well mean the two sisters, effectively had two different women as a mother.
When I was eighteen I worked for a season as a waitress in Folkestone. Working there was a woman of about forty, very conservative looking and quite unlike what one would think of s a ‘professional’ waitress. Yet, this woman had worked her way around America, waitressing. She was amazing and had a fund of great stories, this is one.
She was in the ‘deep south’ and waiting for a Greyhound bus. Needing the loo she rushed into a cafe and into the toilets. When she came out she saw the cafe was full of black people, looking at her with hostility. Realising instantly what had happened – gone into a segregated, for blacks, cafe – she stopped in her tracks. Quickly she apologised and said she hadn’t noticed the signs. When the customers heard her English accent there was a general relaxation and laughter.
That deep south is a strange place!
No. 2 — June 30th, 2010 at 21:33
Haha that is an amusing and telling story! I wonder if the Lee sisters also had different fathers apropos of some of our recent conversations!