LETTER: TLS addressing authorship of 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.
Lee, Harper. TLS Harper Lee Letter Signed -- ".... tremble at Mockingbird's falling into the hands of professors and being Analyzed to death...one academic nut at large declares that Truman Capote wrote it!..."
Excellent Harper Lee typed letter signed, dated 23 March 1990, confronting head-on the lingering questions of "To Kill a Mockingbird's" authorship. Each page measures 5.5" x 7.75" in fine condition.
Lee confides in "Doris: How kind of you to send me the READ ALABAMA info, and how like you to do it. Not only did I remember the first time my opinion was ever sought, I remember that the person seeking it was one of the most elegant-looking creatures I had ever seen. What touched me most was that your generosity of spirit included someone who was (and still is) the reverse of elegant, and made her feel a part of things. You made a friend for life that evening. Yes indeed, I have Alabama Memories, and think it fills a great need. You should have the enormous satisfaction of knowing that your creation will last forever as a permanent asset to all researchers and people who are interested in Alabama writing. Your report of Dr. Beidler's remarks was most reassuring...I tremble at Mockingbird's falling into the hands of professors and being Analyzed to death. (I understand there's one academic nut at large who declares that Truman Capote wrote it!) If panel discussions of Mockingbird could inspire people to read, then I'm all for them. Last night I attended the opening of The Grapes of Wrath...the Broadway production by the Steppenwolf company. My private memories of John as a friend go back for many years, but as I sat watching the familiar scenes unfold I wondered if the young people in the audience knew what they were looking at: a novel that helped change the direction of the country. And I wondered how many of them realized...sitting in their opening-night finery...that they are descendants of the Joads...Love [signed] Nelle". The two page letter includes original envelope.
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