Nelle Harper Lee died in a nursing home in Alabama on Friday at the age of 89. Her 1961 epic narrative To Kill A Mockingbird became a novel that sold more than 40 million copies and won her a Pulitzer prize. Set in Monroeville, Alabama, where she grew up, the novel was about a lawyer, Atticus Finch, who fought to save the life of an African American who was under attack by a racist mob. Lee’s second book Go Set A Watchman came out in July 2015.

Lee became a recluse after the success of her first book, and her second manuscript was found by her lawyer Tonja B Carter, The New York Times reported. She was brought up in the thick of racial crimes in Alabama. Lee also helped Truman Capote research his crime novel In Cold Blood.