Ready or not, readers get sneak peek at Harper Lee's 'Go Set a Watchman'
On Friday, the world got a sneak preview of the first chapter of Harper Lee鈥檚 new book: 鈥淕o Set a Watchman.鈥�
The book, which has been called 鈥渢he most unexpected second novel in memory,鈥� is set to be released July 14. Meanwhile, the first chapter ran in both and the Guardian on Friday.
Harper Lee fans were taken by surprise in February聽when HarperCollins Publishers announced the book鈥檚 pending release. Ms. Lee won the Pulitzer Prize for her 1960 book 鈥楾o Kill a Mockingbird,鈥� but the author now has poor vision and hearing, and is known to have struggled to write another book in the wake of her first novel鈥檚 success. These circumstances have left some to speculate that Lee may not be fully aware of her new book鈥檚 publication.
鈥淗arper Lee鈥檚 book 鈥楾o Kill a Mockingbird鈥� just may be the greatest one-hit wonder ever, in any medium, in any genre," wrote the Monitor鈥檚 Harry Bruinius, of the mystery surrounding the announcement.聽鈥淪o the knowledge that there exists another story of Scout and Atticus Finch, a novel titled 鈥楪o Set a Watchman,鈥� and that it has supposedly existed in some bank vault for more than 50 years, is both thrilling and ... strange?鈥�
The Alabama Department of Human Resources launched an investigation into whether Lee may have been a victim of elder abuse but ultimately decided that such suspicions were unfounded.
Lee鈥檚 lawyer, literary agent, and publisher have all maintained that she is aware and pleased that the book is coming out.
鈥淚鈥檓 alive and kicking and happy as hell with the reactions to 鈥榃atchman,鈥� 鈥� Lee said earlier this year in a statement through her attorney.
The new book takes place in the 1950s, 20 years after the聽setting聽for 鈥楾o Kill a Mockingbird.鈥� Both of Lee鈥檚 books are set in the south, a region known for its literary prowess.
鈥淧erhaps more than any other place since 19th-century New England, the South has been the inkwell for many of the country鈥檚 most enduring works of fiction 鈥� and Faulkner one of the most analyzed writers since Shakespeare,鈥� wrote Harry Bruinius and Carmen K. Sisson in a recent Monitor cover story.
鈥淏ut without question, the most beloved story produced during that time was Harper Lee鈥檚 1960 novel, 鈥楾o Kill a Mockingbird.鈥� 鈥�
Fans of "To Kill a Mockingbird" are eagerly anticipating the book鈥檚 release, anxious to know what happens with the novel鈥檚 beloved characters. Publisher Harper Collins said that pre-orders for 鈥楪o聽Set聽a聽Watchman鈥� are the highest in company history. Bookstores around the world are planning to celebrate its release.聽
