普利策文学奖得主哈珀·李去世

Pulitzer Prize-winning Writer Harper Lee Dies 普利策文学奖得主哈珀·李去世

Famed American writer Harper Lee has died. She was 89.

Lee died in her hometown of Monroeville in the southern state of Alabama. The cause of death was not announced.

Lee was the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Published in 1960, it was one of the most famous and beloved American novels. It still sells about one million copies each year.

Lee was born in Monroeville, but lived for many years in New York City. She suffered a stroke in 2007 and moved back to her hometown. 

“To Kill a Mockingbird” is a story about racism¹ and injustice² in the Deep South. It was made into a movie starring Gregory Peck³ in 1962. The film won three Academy Awards. Harper Lee was very protective of the book being used in other media. But she approved of the movie version.

A Broadway version of “To Kill a Mockingbird” is to be staged in 2017. Television and film writer Aaron Sorkin will adapt the novel. Schools and small theater groups for years have produced an earlier play version written by Christopher Sergel.

Last year, Harper Lee produced another book called “Go Set a Watchman.” The surprise second novel became the fastest-selling book in the history of publisher HarperCollins. The company reported that more than 1.1 million copies were sold in North America in its first week.

“Watchman” includes many of the same characters found in “To Kill A Mockingbird.”  The newer novel was actually an early version of “Mockingbird.”

Most critics did not like “Go Set a Watchman.” Many Harper Lee fans expressed concern that the novel would damage the author’s reputation in the future.

Words in This Story

author – n. a person who has written a book or who writes many books

novel – n. a long written story usually about imaginary characters and events

Deep South – n. the states in the most southern and eastern part of the U.S. and especially Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Louisiana, and Mississippi

stage – v.  to produce (a play, performance, etc.) on a stage

reputation – n. the common opinion that people have about someone or something: the way in which people think of someone or something

1 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

2 injustice   

n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利

参考例句：

• They complained of injustice in the way they had been treated.他们抱怨受到不公平的对待。
• All his life he has been struggling against injustice.他一生都在与不公正现象作斗争。

3 peck   

v.啄，啄食；n.啄痕，啄食，（口）轻吻；配克，（口）大量

参考例句：

• The cock gave me a peck.那只公鸡啄了我一下。
• She gave him a light peck of farewell.她给了他一个匆匆的吻道别。