Lots of writers, artists and composers are known by the general public for one work, think of Widor and his Toccata, Dukas and the Sorcerors Apprentice, Ravel and Bolero, Munch for his ghastly picture ‘The Scream,’ JD Salinger with ‘Catcher in the Rye’ and then there is Harper Lee.
Harper Lee (1926-2016) is famous, hugely so, for one book only: ‘To kill a Mockingbird.’ Set in small town Alabama, where Lee grew up, it hit a collective nerve. It was published in 1961, just around the time of the civil rights movement and has sold in excess of 50 million copies. It has never been out of print and has long been a school set text in the USA as well as many other countries. Why would you bother writing anything else? Her agent and publishers must though have been willing her to do so. Decades later, not long before she died, a book called’ Go Set a Watchman’ appeared but this really is simply some more about ‘To kill a Mockingbird.’
In light of all this I was intrigued to find a book called ‘The Land of Sweet Forever’ on the half price table in Waterstones. Hardback but quite small and light, a very appealing dust jacket, and endpapers with some delightful art work. But what actually had I bought? Well, this is a very pleasing collection of firstly short stories and then essays and various miscellaneous pieces, about life in America and her thoughts on this. It provides a very satisfying and interesting read.
The blurb describes Harper Lee as a New York transplant. Long before she became a literary legend, she had moved to the East Coast and wrote acerbic and insightful essays that were published in top magazines and journals. She haunted Manhattan cinemas and became an expert on contemporary movies. Harper Lee was also a great friend of Truman Capote. This makes sense to me as I can associate his slim, observant stories, Breakfast at Tiffany’s for example, with the writing of his friend. I can imagine long discussions over many cups of coffee.
From soon after the publication of her hugely successful book, Harper Lee refused to be interviewed. She wasn’t a recluse as was JD Salinger, who also would not talk about ‘The Catcher in the Rye,’ but she would not go on television or to literary festivals etc. etc. Publicists and agents must have been beside themselves with frustration. I wonder how many keen, young journalists were tasked by their editors with obtaining an interview with Harper Lee?! There is of course the interesting thought that no publicity can actually be very effective publicity! Think of Elena Ferrante (who is she I wonder?) and the series of books beginning: ‘My Brilliant Friend’. There were endless articles but zero interviews, appearances, book tours etc. Very many books were sold.
I thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Land of Sweet Forever’ and it will sit on my bookshelves beside ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ which I just may read again.