We all remember the summer readings and five page papers our 10th grade English teachers assigned us to do on Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird." The Pulitzer-winning book has become a staple in the American literary canon and is widely regarded as a classic. Published on July 11, 1960, "To Kill a Mockingbird" was considered the one-book wonder of Harper Lee, who has refused to publish a second book since "Mockingbird's" remarkable success. According to Lee, "I've already said everything I needed to say," and for 50 years, that has been true... until an announcement was made in 2014 stating that she would publish a sequel to the beloved American classic, titled "Go Set a Watchman."
"Go Set a Watchman" takes place 20 years after "To Kill a Mockingbird," and follows the disillusionment of Jean Louise "Scout" Finch as she returns home from a stint in New York to discover that what she thought she knew about Maycomb, Alabama, her childhood, and her father, the great Atticus Finch, were grievously wrong.
What prompted Lee to change her mind about never publishing another book again is still a mystery. According to Tonja B. Carter, Lee's "estate trustee, lawyer and friend,” she found the manuscript hidden away in a safety deposit box when she was consolidating Lee's assets a few months ago. It's belived that the manuscript was found as far back as 2011, but was thought to be an early draft of "Mockingbird." Still others say that Lee had originally intended to write "Mockingbird" as the first book in a trilogy, with "Watchman" being the conclusion.
Aside from the speculation as to the book's origins, "Go Set a Watchman" has also stirred up accusations of possible elder abuse, given that Lee is a stroke survivor, at the age of 89, almost completely deaf and blind, and currently living in a nursing home. Between Lee's vulnerability and the suspicious "discovery" of Lee's manuscript (only a few months after the death of Lee's sister and closest confidant, Alice), rumors were flying as to whether or not Lee had truly consented to the publishing of another book. The state of Alabama called for an investigation into the matter, but investigators reported no evidence of abuse.
Whatever the truth is, "Go Set a Watchman" has been quiet a publishing success, and was one of the most anticipated book publications in decades. It is the most pre-ordered book on Amazon.com since the final "Harry Potter" installment in 2007, and set the record at Barnes & Noble for one-day sale of adult fiction books. Hopefully the mystery behind the manuscript will be revealed now that the book has finally reached store shelves.
