"Harper Lee (1926–2016) was the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of To Kill a Mockingbird, a landmark novel that redefined American literature with its powerful exploration of racial injustice. Born in Alabama, Lee drew from her Southern roots to create the iconic Atticus Finch and Scout, earning her the Presidential Medal of Freedom. A reclusive writer, she published Go Set a Watchman in 2015, a sequel set years later. Her work continues to inspire discussions on civil rights and empathy."