It was something I never expected to - I never expected the book would sell in the first place. I was hoping for a quick and merciful death at the hands of the reviewers.

Harper Lee's quote, “It was something I never expected to – I never expected the book would sell in the first place. I was hoping for a quick and merciful death at the hands of the reviewers,” reflects her surprise at the immense success of her novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Lee, a notoriously private author, initially had very modest expectations for the book’s reception. She anticipated that it might be quickly dismissed by critics, but instead, it became an iconic work in American literature. The phrase "quick and merciful death" suggests her anxiety about the critical response, as she was unsure how her work would be received, given the sensitive social themes it explored.

This quote captures Lee’s humility and self-deprecating humor about the overwhelming success of her debut novel. Despite its success, she was not prepared for the fame that would follow, and her candid admission reflects her discomfort with the publicity that came with it. The idea of a "merciful death" at the hands of critics further implies that Lee, who was deeply introspective and shy, feared harsh judgment and hoped for a relatively quiet release of her work.

The origin of this quote lies in Lee’s personal perspective on fame and writing. She was known to be a private person who struggled with the attention that her book brought. To Kill a Mockingbird addressed racial injustice and moral integrity, themes that were deeply important to Lee but not necessarily topics she anticipated would make her an enduring literary figure. Her words reflect a sense of unexpectedness and reluctance about the legacy her novel would create.

In essence, this quote highlights Harper Lee’s modest and humble approach to writing and her surprise at the monumental success of To Kill a Mockingbird. It emphasizes how she never sought fame or recognition but instead hoped for a quiet release of her work, without the pressure of widespread scrutiny. Her reflection on the book’s success provides insight into her personal relationship with the novel and her discomfort with the fame that came as a result.