Afternoons with Harper Lee

by Wayne Flynt

Imagine sitting with an esteemed writer on his or her front porch somewhere in the world and swapping life stories. Dr. Wayne Flynt got the opportunity to do just this with Nelle Harper Lee. In a friendship that blossomed over a dozen years starting when Lee relocated back to Alabama after having had a stroke, Flynt and his wife Dartie became regular visitors at the assisted living facility that was Lee’s new home. And there the conversation began. It began where it always begins with Southern storytellers, with an invitation to “Come in, sit down, and stay a while."

The stories exchanged ranged widely over the topics of Alabama history, Alabama folklore, family genealogy, and American literature, of course. On the way from beginning to end there were many talks about Huntingdon College; The University of Alabama; New York City; the United Kingdom; Garden City, Kansas; and Mobile, Alabama, to name just a few. Wayne and his wife were often joined by Alice Lee, the oldest Lee sister, a living encyclopedia on the subject of family genealogy, and middle sister Louise Lee Conner.

The hours spent visiting, in intimate closeness, are still cherished by Wayne Flynt. They yielded revelations large and small, which have been shaped into Afternoons with Harper Lee . Part memoir, part biography, this book offers a unique window into the life and mind and preoccupations of one of America’s best-loved writers. Flynt and Harper Lee and her sisters learned a great deal from each other, and though this is not a history book, their shared interest in Alabama and its history made this extraordinary work possible.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2022

About the author

James Wayne Flynt is Professor Emeritus in the Department of History at Auburn University. He has won numerous teaching awards and been a Distinguished University Professor for many years. His research focuses on Southern culture, Alabama politics, Southern religion, education reform, and poverty. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Online Encyclopedia of Alabama.

Reviews

[Janilyn Kocher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was eager to read this book, hoping to learn more about the enigmatic Harper Lee.
While I did learn more about her solitary life in elderly age, I was disappointed.
I felt as if the author was cashing in on his friendship with Lee, while announcing he wouldn’t divulge anything too revealing about her.
I also quickly tired of his frequent pontificating; it was a deterrent.
Thanks to Edleweiss and the publisher for the complimentary copy.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

At its best, Afternoons is a friend's biography of Harper Lee, considering her life and the meaning of her published works; at its worse, it is an unorganized jumble of anecdotes that often wander astray from the focus of the book -- and not in the artful way of southern storytelling, but in the 'eh, the book will sell as-is because of the subject and the author' way.

[Brent Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. I would not say it was great, but it was good. The author, Dr. Wayne Flynt, is probably Auburn University's most well known history professor. The book is a great deal about Dr. Flynt in addition to Harper Lee. Dr. Flynt and his wife got to know Ms. Lee through her sisters. They developed a friendship through the years, and to their credit, Dr. Flynt and his wife frequently visited Ms. Lee while she spent her last few years in an assisted living home. She was so private, there was a guard outside her room. So she did not have a lot of visitors. It was good that they visited her as often as they did.

I would say that Dr. Flynt knows more about To Kill A Mockingbird than any other person living. He provided a lot of information about the book. I guess what bothers me is I wonder how Ms. Lee would feel about Dr. Flynt publishing two books about her after her death. One was letters they sent each other through the years. And now this one, which is about visits he and his wife made to Ms. Lee in her later years. She was such a private person. I just wonder how she would feel about Dr. Flynt and his wife making notes after their visits with an apparent intent to write a book about her after her death. Maybe she would have been fine with it (after all she did ask Dr. Flynt to give her eulogy). But it seems her blessing for these books would have been contrary to her intent to keep her private life private.

Dr. Flynt does a good job of letting the reading see who Ms. Lee was. I have a better understanding of her, her personality, and some of her beliefs.

[Frank · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book should have been titled "The Autobiography of Wayne Flynt" rather than "Afternoons with Harper Lee". The Author is obviously well educated and well connected, and he continually reminds you of these facts as you progress through the book. To hear Flynt tell it, he knows everyone of importance whomever they are/were and wherever they may reside. The Author is obviously well educated, well-travelled as he continually points out these facts to the reader. He is an outstanding Professor with few peers, a memorizing speaker and perhaps Miss Lee's best and most devoted personal friend - just ask him! A very disappointing read - I expected more. Mary Mills book "The Mockingbird Next Door: Life with Harper Lee" was a much more revealing and entertaining read.
However, I do give Flynt credit as he is one hell of a writer.

[Grace Poynter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the idea of this book, but a piece of me felt uncomfortable. I found myself trying to rationalize and moralize the idea of writing this book about Wayne Flynt’s friend who was incredibly private with the way she lived her life. I would say, “Well, this is history. He’s telling history as he saw it.” But then some parts were harder to feel that way when he would tell about things she told him in their private (with his wife, Dartie) conversations. It was an interesting read, and I enjoyed reading about this Alabama native written by another Alabama native who has done so many things outside of the state. I’d recommend it to folks, but with a warning that sometimes it just feels “icky.”

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went in with mixed feelings as I know Harper Lee was very private. I am protective of my favorite authors and thought maybe this was someone trying to benefit on her fame. However, after reading the book, it was heartfelt. She asked the author to deliver her eulogy, which says a lot. If anyone was to befriend Ms. Lee, I am glad it was the Flynts….fellow Alabama natives and scholars. It comforts me to know she allowed them to enter her world even if only to combat her loneliness. I loved getting a glimpse of her humor and favorite things.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

She's one of my all-time favorite authors, so I enjoyed a glimpse into her private life. The book had some interesting details and a good amount of humor. Some of the obscure literary references and name-dropping were excessive. Also, jumping around mid-chapter and not having it in chronological order made it difficult to follow. But a decent read for those who enjoy an informative read... and a mystery on the disappearance of an unpublished manuscript called The Reverend.

[Dana Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A “Must Read” for Fans of Nelle Harper Lee

Dr. Flynt lovingly recalls the many times that he and his beloved wife, Dartie, spent in the company of Nelle Harper Lee. Dr. Flynt conveys intimate glimpses into Ms. Lee’s personality, sense of humor, and deep humility without violating her intense need for privacy.

[Mary Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a fascination for Harper Lee's life and love to read any fresh insights on it. This book did provide yet another insider's view on the writer's personality. It was especially poignant to read about the later years of her life and how that affected her. The focus of the work tended to be on the friendship between Wayne Flynt and Harper Lee and how they intersected in that friendship.

[Sheryl Jans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book because I am a fan of Harper Lee, and “To Kill a Mockingbird.” As of yet, I had not read “Go Set a Watchman.” Had I known that the author was going to ruin it for me by telling me what happens, I would have read it first.

[Rebecca Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely tribute to Nelle and Dartie.

[Laurel Sherburne · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful

[Cara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful. What a thoughtful and deeply personal analysis that sends me once again to my well worn copy of To Kill A Mockingbird.

[Janet Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Essential reading for fans of Harper Lee’s writings

[Raoul · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about Harper Lee so far.

[Robert Kemp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contains some interesting insights into Harper Lee's life, but at the expense of enduring the author's voluminous self-gloss.