Today marks the 50th anniversary of the publication date of Harper Lee's prize-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Fans of the book may enjoy this related news story.
Five pieces of trivia:
1. Lee’s first name is Nelle, her grandmother’s name spelled
backward. (source)
2.
Lee studied law at the University of Alabama, but greatly disliked the experience. (source:
same as #1)
3. Early working titles of her book included “Go Set a Watchman”
and “Atticus.” (source: same as #1)
4. Lee based the character
of Atticus Finch on her father, Amasa Coleman Lee, a lawyer who once
unsuccessfully defended a black man and his son accused of murdering a
white shopkeeper. (source: same as #1)
5. Lee borrowed the
first name, “Atticus,” from Cicero’s friend, Titus Pomponius Atticus,
and she used her mother’s maiden name, “Finch,” as his last. (source:
same as #1; and this)