Harper Lee was a highly successful American novelist, best known for her hugely influential novel: To Kill A Mockingbird. Today, on the anniversary of her death in 2016, we take a look at what made her novel so renowned, and a sneak peek into the life of what would eventually become the author of one of the most widely studied books of our time. Harper Lee - The Beginning Nelle Harper Lee was born in April of 1926, in Alabama. Harper was actually her middle name, chosen by her parents to honour the paediatrician who saved her sister's life, whilst her first name 'Nelle' was her …