There has been a lot of discussion in the media about Harper Lee since the story about her new book

[greatlaurel]

So much of the discussion seems to me to be very sexist implying that Harper Lee is not a good writer or somehow she did not really write To Kill A Mockingbird. Does anyone else get the vibe from these discussions and articles that so many in the media are dismissive of Harper Lee's talent as a writer?

[shenmue]

1. I thought so too

[greatlaurel]

2. There was a discussion on the Diane Rehm show today which I found insulting and snobby.

The implication of the panel was that Harper Lee was not that good of a writer and the only reason To Kill a Mockingbird was successful was because it is a kid's book and was heavily edited by a real editor from an important place like New York. The panel was a bunch of pretentious ninnies who would not be caught dead in flyover country. I am exaggerating a little, but it was quite irritating. The inherent misogyny of their criticisms was insulting.

[brer cat]

3. I have the same impression,

and it isn't just the recent discussions. There has long been a group that asserted that Truman Capote wrote TKAM, which I think is absurd as well as sexist and patronizing. I believe that many, especially the "intellectuals," are dismissive because she only wrote the one book (prior to learning recently of the earlier volume), and therefore she is a fluke, not a "real" writer. Her reclusive life style added to that perception as well. Other "one hit" writers have fared better with critics; however the best known include Sylvia Plath, Emily Bronte and Margaret Mitchell who all died not long after publishing their first novels.

I reread TKAM last week because my granddaughter is reading it and I enjoy sharing with her. I still think it is a great book, and outstanding for a southern writer during a period when civil rights were very contested in the south.

[ismnotwasm]

4. I've seen more than one like that

What she was, was not a prolific writer nor a brash, in your face personality. This whole unsavory episode of questioning her talent is sickening

[JustAnotherGen]

7. Everything you just wrote

Adding - she said more in one paragraph (pick one, any one) in TKAM than Ayn Rand said in her entire body of 'work'.

[marym625]

5. Yes

Though I am concerned she is being taken advantage of. This is too convenient. She has had to fight to keep the rights to her book in the past and it was her sister that protected her. Now her sister is gone I have to wonder about the timing. Especially since the publisher has stated he has not spoken to Harper Lee directly

[mercuryblues]

6. If anything

the exact opposite would be more likely. Women often times had their husbands or male relative patent their inventions, because women were not allowed to. Even though the patent act changed that, many states did not allow women to hold property. Which made it impossible for a woman to get the patent, unless her husband paid.


Many women of that time period chose to use a male pen name to have their work taken more seriously. Usually it was not until after the books received critical acclaim did it become known the real author was a woman. So no, a male writing a book, giving it to a woman to publish, under a male pen name is too farfetched to believe. A man pretending to be a wonman, pretending to be a man.

Even Harper Lee. Her full name is Nelle Harper Lee. She dropped the Nelle in favor of the gender neutral Harper. Which is most likely why her book was taken seriously and published.

[JustAnotherGen]

8. Good point . . . S.E. Hinton was another one

Although I believe it was her publisher that suggested the initials in order to not lose early male readers.

[mercuryblues]

9. Charlotte Bronte

wrote Jane Eyre under Currier Bell and Emily wrote Wuthering Heights under the name Ellis Bell.


Even JK Rowling was urged to use initials instead of her first name Joanne.

http://www.webdesignschoolsguide.com/library/10-famous-females-who-used-male-pen-names.html