The literary word came to a standstill when award-winning novelist Harper Lee, in a statement, made the astounding announcement on Feb. 3 that the sequel to the smash hit novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" is going to be published. The 300-page manuscript titled "Go Set a Watchman," reported to have been written in the 1950s, tells the story of a grown up Scout Finch who comes back to Maycomb in Alabama to help her father make peace with the racist undertones prevalent in her home town.
Owing to the fact that her literary agents did not find the story of a grown up Scout capable of connecting to an audience, the book was put on the backburner and subsequently forgotten. "To Kill a Mocking Bird" was published and the rest is history. Apart from getting Lee a Pulitzer, "Mocking Bird" has sold more than 40 million copies worldwide and, even today, continues to be a popular read among the current generation of serious readers. The book was given the distinguished title of "Best Novel of the Twentieth Century" by the Library Journal.
After "To Kill a Mocking Bird" was published, Lee went into a self-imposed exile and has not made any significant efforts to publish another book in the past 60 years. It was reported that she found the whole publicity hoopla surrounding her published work completely unbearable. Lee's current mental condition, according to reports, is questionable at best as she has lost most of her hearing, sight, and memory.
It is in this scenario that HarperCollins is set to publish "Go Set a Watchman." Although the book is, without a doubt, something of a treasure for her army of loyal fans, the timing of the publication and speculations around Lee's current mental and physical condition does raise questions that are not easily answered. Also, the single manuscript for "Go Set a Watchman" was reportedly locked in her safe, which gives urgency to the concern. Several news agencies, from the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal, have raised allegations against the publishing house.
Even in her hometown, natives are giving a mixed response to the incident. While some state that she actually never wanted the book to be published, others claim that Lee is fully involved in the move to publish the book and that she is in sound mental condition.
"Go Set a Watchman" is set to hit shelves on July 14.
