To Kill A Mockingbird

Whilst the studio was empty, I decided to take some photos of the newish hospital radio studios in all their glory. Sorry its a bit geeky. And the wonderful old vinyl players and CD players are out of shot to the right there.

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I'm reading about Harper Lee, the author of To Kill A Mockingbird. I find it fascinating to read about the personal lives of those who create beautiful masterpieces. Generally, in my case, I find they tend to be eccentric, individualist, emotional, often troubled, and shy or reclusive from public life. Recluses or semi-recluses whose work I have idolised include J.D.Salinger, Harper Lee, Rollo Armstrong, Erik Satie and Caroline Aherne. I use the word recluse very loosely indeed - and in these instances, meaning either shy from the public eye or talked about as being a recluse.

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To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my all-time favourite novels since reading it at school. Last Saturday, I went to see it at the theatre and this morning, I watched the film made of it, which features Gregory Peck. It's so moving in so many ways - Often remembered as a book about overcoming racial prejudice, the morals, metaphors and quotes work on many more levels. I love also, how it's power - the power to touch you, make you think, re-consider, make you cry - is almost ALL in the words.

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Harper Lee, who wrote the book in 1960 is still alive to this day. I was told she was a recluse (like one of the characters in the book) so I had to Wikipedia her, but it isn't really true. She just doesn't speak in public - however appears to have a close circle of true friends, including Gregory Peck who named his child after her... LOL.

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Very interestingly, the book is very much based on her own life. More so than I thought. Her father was a businessman very similar to Atticus, her childhood friend, Dill was based on her real best friend as a child - and the recluse who lived over the road is based on a real guy who really did creep out at night and leave presents in the tree-hole for the two children.

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Every time I look at the author of a great piece of art, I find they are writing their truth, near enough. Like they say, there is nothing more beautiful than the truth.