To Kill a Mockingbird writer dies Harper Lee died peacefully in her sleep on Friday at the age of 89. She is famous for her book 'To Kill a Mockingbird' which sold an estimated 30 million copies worldwide. The book, which was published in 1960, tells the story of a white lawyer, Atticus Finch who unsuccessfully defends a black man who is falsely accused of rape. The story is narrated by Finch's young daughter named Scout. The book which exposes racial hatred in America at the time became required reading in American schools and also South African schools, and probably in many other countries around the world. Harper was a shy woman who had grown up as a tom-boy. She had never married, lived privately and always turned down interview requests, according to reuters. Lee stayed in Monroeville, Alabama U.S.A with her older sister Alice Lee who was a lawyer.Harper Lee had suffered a stroke and had lost her hearing and sight partially previously. Her other works include 'Go set a Watchman'. The movie version of her book also became a classic and won an Academy award for 'Best Picture' in 1963 and Gregory Peck who played the role of Atticus Finch won 'Best Actor'. In November 2007, Lee received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from the then President George W. Bush, who had described her book as "A gift to the world". She was born on 28 April 1926 and died in her sleep on 19 February 2016.