Harper Lee, who wrote one of America's most enduring literary classics, "To Kill a Mockingbird," has died at the age of 89.

Her death was confirmed by the City Hall in Monroeville, Alabama, where she lived.

Lee's family said in a statement that the beloved author passed away peacefully and a private funeral will be held in the upcoming days.

Her most renowned novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," published in 1960, tells the story of a girl nicknamed Scout growing up in a Depression-era Southern town where her resolute lawyer father Atticus Finch defends a black man who has been wrongly accused of raping a white woman despite threats and the scorn of many.

The book quickly became a best-seller, won the Pulitzer Prize and was made into a memorable movie in 1962, with Oscar winner Gregory Peck stars for Atticus.

By 2015, the total sales of the book were reported to be more than 40 million worldwide, making it one of the most widely read American novels of the 20th century.