After all the buildup - it will be very hard for:
"Go, set a Watchman"
to live up to its billing.
"Go, set a Watchman"
to live up to its billing.
1
I wonder how much this is about establishing some kind of proprietary claim by the publisher/estate owners on this manuscript before the author dies? If I were a Harper Lee fan, I'd be thrilled. But it's obviously not a " new" novel, so for the rest of us, it's just a curiosity.
1
Let the hoopla-oriented folks at PBS take note: there are marshes with quicksand in those literary woods, so stay out of them, which they should have little trouble doing, since your cameras seldom shine on books of any kind.
Novelists sometimes write a book they call "the book before the book," or a world-building book, where they get to know the world and characters they will write about. One writer said to me, "You put that book in a drawer and forget about it." That's what Harper Lee did. Unfortunately, her lawyer and others with dollar signs in their eyes have found this book in her old age and are publishing it. While Ms Lee has approved publication, one wonders if her judgment is as sound as it used to be. This book could diminish her reputation, not add to it--something Harper Lee may have realized decades before now.
8
Most likely we will never know the full story of what, where, when & how of Watchman's history. But we know the WHO, Harper Lee. It will be thrilling to read her words again. As a rare book dealer I have watched early printings of To Kill a Mockingbird escalate in value & those with signatures hit Hemingway & Steinbeck levels.
All this mystery will encourage millions to read and serious collectors to acquire remaining 1960 copies of Mockingbird.
My most fervent hope is that Miss lee is aware enough to enjoy the attention and accolades coming her way.
All this mystery will encourage millions to read and serious collectors to acquire remaining 1960 copies of Mockingbird.
My most fervent hope is that Miss lee is aware enough to enjoy the attention and accolades coming her way.
Does it really matter? Or is this a ploy? If it is, it's totally unnecessary.
It's not a ploy. There's no reason anyone would have felt a "ploy" was necessary to sell a second Harper Lee novel! It would have sold itself, controversy or no controversy.
It's a book. I hope its better than her last one. If not, no big deal, there are plenty of good books I haven;t gotten around to yet, and, right now, I could care less about how it came to be found and published.
It seems obvious to me that Harper's much older sister probably didn't want the novel published. Probably for the same reasons the original editors thought that it needed reworking.
Alice was probably protecting for her little sister's best interest her whole life.
Lots of "probablys" here, but thankfully Harper has decided to let her fans be the judge of the story's worthiness.
Alice was probably protecting for her little sister's best interest her whole life.
Lots of "probablys" here, but thankfully Harper has decided to let her fans be the judge of the story's worthiness.
Perhaps what we will learn from all of this is that the editor is as important as the author. In the case of Watchman, we have an ostensibly unedited manuscript which may reveal how critical the editor's hand was in the process. Perhaps that's what Alice fretted about: that Watchman would reveal both her sister's writing talents, and her shortcomings.
1
How does that lyric go?..."let's give 'em something to talk about..."
heaven, mr burnham, does indeed know when...we not yet shed of our mortal coil can only guess, working our way through the fog of ms carter's "limited" (dodgy?) account" and the odor of cynicism that permeates the entire landscape of this affair, perhaps publication of a manuscript facsimile beside the eventual harper collins "very valuable" product might help us glean therefrom.
Sadly it seems increasingly likely that Ms Carter is a liar who has taken control of Ms. Lee and her life and property. An investigation should focus on and reveal whether she holds executor power over Harper Lee's estate and how much if any of it she stands to inherit because this book, its publication, sales, movie and distribution rights are going to be worth, in today's world, hundreds of millions of dollars.
Call me a cynic but I am at least a skeptic and things like this, lost books by a one book author whose one book is one of the most profound successes in American literature, don't just show up like this in all this confusion. Someone has caused it to happen now, near the end of Ms. Lee's life and the person(s) and reasons behind that are the real nefarious mystery. The evidence points decidedly to Ms. Carter.
Call me a cynic but I am at least a skeptic and things like this, lost books by a one book author whose one book is one of the most profound successes in American literature, don't just show up like this in all this confusion. Someone has caused it to happen now, near the end of Ms. Lee's life and the person(s) and reasons behind that are the real nefarious mystery. The evidence points decidedly to Ms. Carter.
7
All the "mystery" leading to the publication and sale of "Go Set a Watchman" is mere hype, intended to bump sales into the stratosphere. The manuscript will have to speak for itself. Truth be told, I find it boring
Following distantly on the heels of one of the landmark novels of American literature, one that roared loudly at the start of a decade of explosive chaos in America, I fear that "Watchman" will disappoint. My hope is: Not so. I finally read "To Kill a Mockingbird" after having seen the movie more times than I can recall. It is rare for a film to do justice to its source. "Mockingbird" was, and remains to this day, one of those gems.
In a few days the real mystery of "Watchman" will be revealed. Like a beautifully wrapped Christmas gift teasing you because you can't imagine what the box contains, your unspoken wish is that the best part is what you find inside.
Let it be so. Please.
Following distantly on the heels of one of the landmark novels of American literature, one that roared loudly at the start of a decade of explosive chaos in America, I fear that "Watchman" will disappoint. My hope is: Not so. I finally read "To Kill a Mockingbird" after having seen the movie more times than I can recall. It is rare for a film to do justice to its source. "Mockingbird" was, and remains to this day, one of those gems.
In a few days the real mystery of "Watchman" will be revealed. Like a beautifully wrapped Christmas gift teasing you because you can't imagine what the box contains, your unspoken wish is that the best part is what you find inside.
Let it be so. Please.
2
She wrote a novel and she was told to re-work her story and present it from a new perspective, in another time-frame. Then, with this "managed product" she won a major prize. And couldn't write again. The fear doesn't answer to logic. All writers comfortable with their own work expect ups and downs. But someone who is traumatized by a process may be aversive. The question would be why her publisher didn't feel the investment in Ms. Lee to be worth more attention through the years.
The only voice I'm interested in is the author's and I am not sure that is what I'm getting...
3
The relation of "Watchman" to "Mockingbird" may turn out to ne like the relation of "Stephen Hero" to "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man," that is, the relation of an early, aesthetically inferior work to the superior, revised version. For common readers as well as for literary scholars, it's always interesting and valuable to have the earlier work also.
2
Re: " 'Ms. Carter was present in the safe-deposit room and, along with Mr. Caldwell and I [sic], read manuscript pages,' Mr. Pinkus said."
If Mr. Pinkus really is a literary agent and he really has been quoted accurately, we've got bigger problems than the authenticity of this putative novel. "I" is a subject pronoun, not an object pronoun, and only an illiterate would use it as if it were an object pronoun. There is absolutely no grammatical difference between the sentence quoted above and sentences such as "Send the book to I" or "Me am a literary agent".
If Mr. Pinkus really is a literary agent and he really has been quoted accurately, we've got bigger problems than the authenticity of this putative novel. "I" is a subject pronoun, not an object pronoun, and only an illiterate would use it as if it were an object pronoun. There is absolutely no grammatical difference between the sentence quoted above and sentences such as "Send the book to I" or "Me am a literary agent".
6
I went to grade school for eight years with Sammy Pinkus. Trust me, he doesn't know the difference between a subject pronoun and an object pronoun. He became a literary agent because he married the boss' daughter. If you would like a fascinating read about Sammy Pinkus, Harper Lee and the book -- "To Steal a Mockingbird" in the August 2013 issue of Vanity Fair.
4
This is really just silly - nobody imagines literary agents are grammatically competent. Being highly literate, or even literarily inclined, is not a prerequisite to be a literary agent. It's a business. They aren't writers.
I'm trying to imagine a wily lawyer, scheming to make a boatload of money from a novelist long past her prime, and who only ever wrote, then rewrote, one novel in her lifetime, and who was either clueless about what this lawyer was doing, or else was in the early stages of dementia, or both. No, I can't imagine it. Most lawyers are too smart to do something this blatantly fraudulent. The lawyers who don't fit into this category become politicians.
I can't wait to see the movie. I mean the one about this lawyer and her aging author client. It will be called 'The Golden Goose Egg'.
2
So let me get this straight. Did Mr. Pinkus, a literary agent, really say "along with Mr. Caldwell and I"? Or was this grammatical error committed by the writers of this article, or heaven forbid, a NYT copy editor? In any case, literary folks don't seem to know English grammar as well as they did when "To Kill a Mockingbird" was first published.
11
Nobody knows English grammar well any more--NYT writers and editors included.
3
Bless you. But you know, editors and English teachers, who really should know better, are increasingly mangling their sentences. Word choice, diction, grammar, all out the window.
Ever hear a teacher say to an auditorium full of students, "Please don't clap until I tell you that you can applause"?
I have.
Ever hear a teacher say to an auditorium full of students, "Please don't clap until I tell you that you can applause"?
I have.
2
As Oscar Wilde said, “The truth is rarely pure and never simple.” Or, in the case of To Set A Watchman, he could have just said, "They're all liars." The lawyers will sort it out, and be the only ones to have a positive experience over the matter.
4
What a contrivance to generate sales and interest...we would be better off avoiding the blandishments of salespeople altogether and reading something else.
2
I just keep wondering if Truman Capote had a big hand in the writing/revision of the original Mockingbird. And that this is why there was no follow-up book. It really does seem as though Watchman was the coarse diamond from which Mockingbird was refined. Otherwise, it would have been published long before now.
But we'll never know because the publisher will have edited it, polished it. Harpers has come great editors including Burnham.
But we'll never know because the publisher will have edited it, polished it. Harpers has come great editors including Burnham.
Since rumor has it that Harper Lee did much of the research for Capote's masterpiece "In Cold Blood," he may indeed have helped her with "Mockingbird," though his "new journalism" style doesn't really show up in Lee's masterpiece.
1
This novel's publication has turned into a dog and pony show, which I guess is ultimately to the benefit of this novel's sales, however good, middling or bad it is.
I look forward to reading it since it came--or may have come--from the mind and hands of Harper Lee, but I will nevertheless keep in mind its somewhat sketchy appearance in the world.
Perhaps if there were some sign--her voice, her face, anything--that convinced readers she had authorized its publication, that would provide some comfort to the skeptics, but we've been repeatedly told that though she was able to greenlight this new book she can't or won't communicate with the outside world...wait, which was it?
I look forward to reading it since it came--or may have come--from the mind and hands of Harper Lee, but I will nevertheless keep in mind its somewhat sketchy appearance in the world.
Perhaps if there were some sign--her voice, her face, anything--that convinced readers she had authorized its publication, that would provide some comfort to the skeptics, but we've been repeatedly told that though she was able to greenlight this new book she can't or won't communicate with the outside world...wait, which was it?
10
More literature is better than none. This precious little battle is tiresome. The Word is all that is important in this. Bring it forth and let the world decide its value. Publishers these days are staffed by greedy bureaucrats, lawyers are lawyers and artists generally want to be read...no matter how they might protest at one point or another.
8
Re: "More literature is better than none."
What does "none" have to do with it? We don't have "none". We've never had "none". It's unlikely we ever will have "none". We have at present an incredibly huge surfeit of literature, the vast majority of which is not worth touching, let alone reading.
What does "none" have to do with it? We don't have "none". We've never had "none". It's unlikely we ever will have "none". We have at present an incredibly huge surfeit of literature, the vast majority of which is not worth touching, let alone reading.
2
My agent describes the publishers who decide what will get acquired for publication as the "black shoes". They only think in terms of profit, not art. I agree with you, Lure D. Lou. Let the world decide the merit of Ms. Lee's novel.
Harper Lee's net worth is estimated to be 35 million US dollars. As a retired teacher of English, my net worth might be $35,000.
But many of my students who lived in a very wealthy Connecticut town, said that "To Kill a Mockingbird" was the most moving, humbling, and transforming books they'd ever read.
But many of my students who lived in a very wealthy Connecticut town, said that "To Kill a Mockingbird" was the most moving, humbling, and transforming books they'd ever read.
12
"To Kill a Mockingbird" is my first English novel I read when I came to study in America. A Tulane student named Jeffrey lent me the book and I was deeply moved by this book after reading it. I wish well for the publication of "Go Set a Watchman" and congrats to Ms. Harper Lee!
9
I think it will be very difficult to know if this is an authentic text in Lee's own voice or something that has been manipulated by others to bring about a marketing blitz, publishing profits and royalties out the kazoo. Good or bad, her state of mind, the delay and prior state of "Watchman" manuscript, the conflicting stories....masterpiece or mediocre...will it real author be Lee or an astute editor.
2
A lot of things can be true at the same time here. It may be true that Harper Lee did not want to publish this novel back in the 1950s. It may be true that Tonja Carter is is not telling the truth about the discovery of this manuscript. It may be true that Alice Lee didn't want the novel published. It may be true that Harper Lee was talked into publishing the novel. Even given all all that, if state authorities are correct that she has freely consented the decision should stand. A lot of us change our minds about things as we age. It's good that people are concerned for Harper Lee's well-being, but as an older adult she's entitled to make her own decisions about things and that's key to her well-being (and personal autonomy) too.
27
Go Set A Watchman would be published in any scenario: by Harper's Lee's consent or upon her death. The objection by those who suspect manipulation of Ms. Lee by her legal representative isn't that the book will be published, but that it would be published while the author is still alive.
If we assume the premise that Ms. is not mentally capable of consent, do the objectors claim she will be alert enough to be harmed? If they say this, must they not also assume that she is already harmed, knowing all along that her MS would be published anyway?
If we assume the premise that Ms. is not mentally capable of consent, do the objectors claim she will be alert enough to be harmed? If they say this, must they not also assume that she is already harmed, knowing all along that her MS would be published anyway?
2
I don't think it's a question of whether the manuscript gets published or even when the manuscript gets published; it's a question of how it's represented when it's published. Both the publisher and Lee's lawyer are misrepresenting the manuscript as a new novel, when, in fact, it's merely a first draft of an old, very well-known novel. They're hoodwinking the public to try to make themselves a fortune. The manuscript should be published--eventually--only as part of an extended scholarly edition of "To Kill a Mocking Bird" including a scholarly account of the novel's history.
5
Whoever you are, wherever you live, you know NOTHING about how this book came to be. Admit it. You don't know. This endless speculation is tiresome.
6
Found with Go See a Watchman was an account of Southern plantation life 20 years after the Civil War. It featured a late middle aged Scarlett and Rhett as passionate divorcees. Margaret Mitchell's editor suggested she set it 20 years earlier. The rest is history.
5
How ageist to assume that Harper Lee is being manipulated when non-involved persons have already met with her and determined that she is in agreement with publishing and has enough marbles left to make that decision.
4
"She said she had made the discovery in August, though the publisher originally said it had been found in the fall."
This seems like splitting hairs. Schools often start in August--that says "fall" to me.
This seems like splitting hairs. Schools often start in August--that says "fall" to me.
3
My suspicion is the new book will not be worth all the hype. It's most likely a poor novel or she would not have written Mockingbird to replace it. ... that is IF SHE really did write the version now being published.
10
I love TKaM and will never tire of reading it (or watching the movie). To me, the fact that its author is a one-hit wonder has always made the reading all the more interesting. The book always had a life of it own, until now.
I don't even want to read another article about this "lost manuscript" or whatever it is. (Note, however, that I do appreciate this article and other journalists' efforts in tracking this story.)
I intend to keep the original (i.e., the final draft) in my heart as is, and I don't appreciate this circus of high-end money grubbers who appear to have made Harper Lee the central character in a bad drama.
I don't even want to read another article about this "lost manuscript" or whatever it is. (Note, however, that I do appreciate this article and other journalists' efforts in tracking this story.)
I intend to keep the original (i.e., the final draft) in my heart as is, and I don't appreciate this circus of high-end money grubbers who appear to have made Harper Lee the central character in a bad drama.
13
i do not consider ms lee a "one hit wonder" this is cheap shot at a brilliant novelist. " to kill a mockingbird" was rather a life's work.
Alice Lee, Harper Lee's sister, died shortly before the discovery of the manuscript of what has become Go Set a Watchman.
Maybe, just maybe, it was the death of Alice Lee that has been the catalyst of this book's publication. Maybe it was Alice Lee who didn't want it published. Maybe it was unpublished to protect Alice Lee. Maybe maybe maybe.
Harper Lee has not only had to deal with rumors and accusations regarding its publication, but she has -for goodness sakes! - been investigated by the state as to whether she is competent.
If she did not want publication of her manuscript she would have said so by now?
Maybe, just maybe, it was the death of Alice Lee that has been the catalyst of this book's publication. Maybe it was Alice Lee who didn't want it published. Maybe it was unpublished to protect Alice Lee. Maybe maybe maybe.
Harper Lee has not only had to deal with rumors and accusations regarding its publication, but she has -for goodness sakes! - been investigated by the state as to whether she is competent.
If she did not want publication of her manuscript she would have said so by now?
15
I have always thought that the reason all of this is happening is because of Alice Lee's death. I have no idea why, and we will never know, but it was clear that Alice did all the talking for Harper for many years.
6
Phern Hunt, that makes sense, but it doesn't suggest anything untoward. Alice Lee was a lawyer, Harper Lee was a reclusive author. The lawyer sister looked after the writer sister's interests, as far as I can see. Alice Lee would have had no motive that I can think of to hold back another novel that her sister wrote, if her sister wanted it published. Jealousy over her sister's success, I suppose? But that ship had long since sailed.
Absent some quite far-fetched scenario that none of us can imagine, the situation looks very much like Alice Lee protected her sister's interests. Her sister was pressured to produce another novel, but never produced another one that she wanted to see published. The "Watchman" manuscript seems unlikely to have sat "undiscovered" for decades - it was obviously held back on purpose.
Absent some quite far-fetched scenario that none of us can imagine, the situation looks very much like Alice Lee protected her sister's interests. Her sister was pressured to produce another novel, but never produced another one that she wanted to see published. The "Watchman" manuscript seems unlikely to have sat "undiscovered" for decades - it was obviously held back on purpose.
1
I still don't understand how Ms. Lee could forget that she wrote a second book.
Hello, did you read the article stanleycup2013? The whole point is that Ms. Lee considered it a first draft of To Kill a Mockingbird.
10
The article could be more simply and clearly written.
She didn't "forget she wrote a second novel." "Watchman" was her FIRST novel. It morphed, under editorial direction, into "To Kill a Mockingbird." It was essentially a DRAFT of Mockingbird.
The confusion seems to come from the fact that the events of Watchman take place later than the events in Mockingbird, seemingly making people perceive it as a sequel, which is usually written, well, second. But not this one.
The confusion seems to come from the fact that the events of Watchman take place later than the events in Mockingbird, seemingly making people perceive it as a sequel, which is usually written, well, second. But not this one.
2
Make a good literary thriller in the vein of the James's the "Aspern Papers"..or Wharton's The Touchstone. Strange that 'Watchman' only saw the light of day to the public after Alice Lee was no longer able to clarify matters, including her sister's intentions. ( Either too infirm, though also now deceased as the publicity increases) Also inexplicable - her lawyer Miss Carter claims was sent out on an errand when manuscript was ' discovered '... to get coffee?Look in a nearby landfill for the third volume of the "trilogy"? And afterwards she will not elaborate on what she learned at the time, despite representing harper Lee; adding the brew, she sues the literary agent who also was present at the discovery.
What load of malarky !
What load of malarky !
20
Not sure how I feel about this. Was Max Brod acting ethically when he defied Kafka's request to burn his work? Can we ever really be certain whether Harper Lee wants this book published? And should we abide only by her decision from years ago when she has the right to change it? It is definitely a sketchy ethical situation, and I'm not sure what the correct strategy should be.
11
If Kafka--or any writer/composer/whatever--really wanted the manuscripts destroyed, guess what? There was nothing stopping the creator from doing the deed. Brod did the write thing. When you hand over your work to anyone else, you cease being in control of what happens to it. Kafka had a delete key; it was called a nice warm fire. He never lit one, and he knew exactly what Brod would do. Never underestimate the vanity of even a dead artist.
Newly discovered or discovered and concealed by nefarious agents, the REAL story is that we have a second novel to read, authored by Harper Lee.
8
If she wrote it, and it is now being published, the sequence of events leading to its publication is irrelevant to its value as a text. If it was written first, it can provide insight into her creative process. This reminds me of kibitzing over the value of some of Ernest Hemingway's books published after his death, or the debates about the role of editors in making sense of an unwieldy MS.
14
There can be little doubt that Hemingway's literary reputation was severely harmed by the posthumous publication of scribblings he himself clearly deemed unworthy.
"It's obvious that she is being manipulated."
" there were shenanigans involved"
"Criminals love to manipulate people for their own benefit."
I am astounded how everything is so clear to most of the people writing these comments.
There is only one thing that is absolutely clear: "nobody knows what happened with this new book."
I work in an office, constantly communicating with a team of people about our current project. Even in my little tiny world, there are many misunderstandings and things have to be re-hashed many times for people to get on the same page.
This sort of misunderstandings is a common issue with jury witnesses. All of them narrate a different version of what happened.
If you believe that you really know what happened after reading this short story, in which the writers do not even bother to describe their research methods, you are sadly mistaken.
As far as I can see, nobody has even bothered to figure out what is the motive for these "criminals".
" there were shenanigans involved"
"Criminals love to manipulate people for their own benefit."
I am astounded how everything is so clear to most of the people writing these comments.
There is only one thing that is absolutely clear: "nobody knows what happened with this new book."
I work in an office, constantly communicating with a team of people about our current project. Even in my little tiny world, there are many misunderstandings and things have to be re-hashed many times for people to get on the same page.
This sort of misunderstandings is a common issue with jury witnesses. All of them narrate a different version of what happened.
If you believe that you really know what happened after reading this short story, in which the writers do not even bother to describe their research methods, you are sadly mistaken.
As far as I can see, nobody has even bothered to figure out what is the motive for these "criminals".
5
"As far as I can see, nobody has even bothered to figure out what is the motive for these "criminals"."
What is the motive ever in an instance such as this?….$$$$
What is the motive ever in an instance such as this?….$$$$
4
Sorry, but it stinks to high heaven.
2
"As far as I can see, nobody has even bothered to figure out what is the motive for these 'criminals.'"
"Harper, a HarperCollins imprint, will release “Watchman” on July 14, with a first printing of two million copies. The novel is the most preordered book in the company’s history."
Do the math.
"Harper, a HarperCollins imprint, will release “Watchman” on July 14, with a first printing of two million copies. The novel is the most preordered book in the company’s history."
Do the math.
1
There is so much shadiness about this whole thing. As evidenced by the copyright swindle, seems like no one but Harper's sister was actually looking out for her. Sad that such a national treasure is surrounded by shady people. Also very unflattering to Harper Collins--but we all know publishers are now only about the money they can make and nothing else.
13
It may be that her sister was overprotective of Lee's reputation (note; see Brontes) and did not act in her best interests, whatever her intent; we don't know.
1
What a bunch of shady, larcenous characters taking advantage of an aging and largely incapacitated American literary legend. Now there's a novel for you.
23
No matter how this darling orphan found my door~ i couldnt love it more!! More scout and atticus !!
4
The proof is in the reading. The rest is just publicity agent backstory and fiddle-dee-dee.
5
fiddle-dee-dee, aka Ms. Carter's cut of the pie.
3
All this commotion earlier this year about "Go Set A Watchman" made me realize that I had never read "To Kill A Mocking Bird" so I did. Frankly I was somewhat disappointed and obviously will not read her new book. Be careful to force school kids to read all this.
7
This was one of the best books I have ever read. And I've read hundreds of books. I read it in when I was in the 8th grade (about 1972). Recently bought a new copy and plan to read at some point. My kids (twins) are 11 now. I will try to encourage them to read it maybe in about 5 years. It was just so good. I have to totally disagree with this commenter. But, to each his own.
6
No reason why your children can't read it when they're twelve or thirteen. The first four pages are murder on kids -- after that, they can't put the book down. And by the end, they see exactly why Harper Lee began it that way.
6
I have to agree. The most memorable thing about "To Kill A Mocking Bird" was the character "Boo Radley". The Hannibal Lecter of his day.
1
It's obvious that she is being manipulated. The full, sad story won't emerge until well after the rubes take the bait.
20
It was flatly obvious from 5 minutes after ithe discovery of a "new" Harper Lee novel was announced that there were shenanigans involved.
37
Criminals love to manipulate people for their own benefit. The elderly and the disabled are an easy target. But even from the criminals I did not expect such meanness.
21
Like most artistic works, nearly all artistic works, after the passage of some time, it will stand or fall on its own merit regardless of how it came to be or what shenanigans may have occurred in getting it to publication.
1
Harper Lee certainly knew this first draft of Mockingbird existed and chose not to publish it until approached in her 80's by atty. Carter. How much will the various parties to the publication of this 'new' book by Harper Lee make from its publication? Who would have made how much if it was found and published as the first draft it is after Ms. Lee's death?
21
I suggest people read the book and concern themselves with it's quality and what it says. How it is written, how the words flow, or not. The writing, the use of language and the story are what is important, not the hype.
7
You're right. I'll just spend the money from the purse I ripped off some old lady, and will worry about the quality of the money, not how it got in my hands and whether the old lady is okay.
8
Get it from the public library, Lauren. You won't be guilty of stealing all the money in the purse, just a few cents, because he cost of the library book will be spread over the many.
1
None of this matters. Only the work matters. And we readers will be able to judge its merits for ourselves.
4
So what? Mountain from a Mole Hole its called. Thank goodness a new book from Harper Lee is coming out. The junk that is called books today is outrageous.
Many of the so called authors have made contribution to the NYT. Just because you can scribble a word does not make you an author. Most of the contributions made to the NYT are pure junk.
To Kill A Mockingbird continues to be the finest book ever written. I imagine Go Set a Watchman will rank up there with Mockingbird.
Many of the so called authors have made contribution to the NYT. Just because you can scribble a word does not make you an author. Most of the contributions made to the NYT are pure junk.
To Kill A Mockingbird continues to be the finest book ever written. I imagine Go Set a Watchman will rank up there with Mockingbird.
2
You may not be in a position to judge...
1
This is all part of Donald Trump's 1961 presidential campaign strategy.
22
This reminds me of a lot of pre-publication excitement in the early 2000s over a supposedly "lost" early novel by science fiction master Robert A. Heinlein. His protege Jerry Pournelle, however, pointed out that the dean of hard sci-fi had very much enjoyed being paid for his writing, so if Heinlein had chosen not to publish it for the rest of the life, that suggested it was pretty dire.
And it was.
And it was.
8
I enjoyed it. Admittedly, it was an obvious first novel. However I also enjoyed Patrick O'Brian's two first efforts in what became his series, and for the same reasons. The author and his later work is so good that it is fun to see him grow into it.
If that is all this one is, it might be enough.
If that is all this one is, it might be enough.
4
There's no doubt that there's something sketchy about the series of events that brought Go Set a Watchman to publication. And if Harper Lee at one point gave her permission to have it published, well, at another point she apparently gave Marja Mills permission to write a book about living next door, and then insisted she'd done no such thing. With age comes forgetfulness. If she changed her mind about publishing this book, there was probably somebody talking her into it. Which begs the question, cold-hearted though it sounds: why not just wait until after she dies? Sure, there will still be purists arguing that Miss Lee's wishes should be honored, but no allegations of elder abuse.
And it also seems very likely this book won't be as strong as TKAM. It was an early and rejected draft. But how fascinating to be able to see and compare the two versions of the story, to follow its progression.
Yes, there's some questionable stuff going on here. But the bottom line is...I've preordered GSAM and so have an estimated two million other people. We love TKAM, we love Miss Lee, and we still want more.
And it also seems very likely this book won't be as strong as TKAM. It was an early and rejected draft. But how fascinating to be able to see and compare the two versions of the story, to follow its progression.
Yes, there's some questionable stuff going on here. But the bottom line is...I've preordered GSAM and so have an estimated two million other people. We love TKAM, we love Miss Lee, and we still want more.
15
You, and others, "wanting more" is hardly the point!
10
If pre-sale figures are any indicator, Go Set a Watchman will be as big a book as To Kill a Mockingbird was, and could very well eclipse it. The new book was the number one best seller on Amazon from the moment its publication was announced, and our local bookstores have waitlists for copies already. It seems that there is a great deal of interest in this book, no matter whether it was written as a first draft or as a sequel to Mockingbird.
1
Re: "Which begs the question, cold-hearted though it sounds: why not just wait until after she dies?"
I don't know why that would be cold-hearted, but it certainly does not "beg the question". The expression "begging the question" refers to a particular logical fallacy, also called, in Latin, "petitio principii". It means assuming in your argument the very thing your argument attempts to prove. It doesn't mean provoking or eliciting a question.
I don't know why that would be cold-hearted, but it certainly does not "beg the question". The expression "begging the question" refers to a particular logical fallacy, also called, in Latin, "petitio principii". It means assuming in your argument the very thing your argument attempts to prove. It doesn't mean provoking or eliciting a question.
1
A literary agent says "along with Mr. Caldwell and I"? Maybe he's only masquerading as a literary agent.
20
A literary agent and a copy editor are two entirely different things.
3
He may really be an agent, but he's certainly not literary--or even literate. Thanks for noticing. Please remain vigilant.
Why do so many news articles these days have to reek of "conspiracy" - can't we just take some information and go with it and not pick it to pieces and analyze it to death.
This is such a disturbing trend. Last night I saw on CNN a news anchor trying over and over again to get an expert on shark bites to say that there was a rogue shark off North Carolina responsible for the recent spate of attacks. The expert held his ground against this incessant and annoying questioning and kept saying that in his man years of experience such a thing has happened only once or twice.
Re: Harper Lee - I look forward to reading the book and enjoying it. Period. End of story.
This is such a disturbing trend. Last night I saw on CNN a news anchor trying over and over again to get an expert on shark bites to say that there was a rogue shark off North Carolina responsible for the recent spate of attacks. The expert held his ground against this incessant and annoying questioning and kept saying that in his man years of experience such a thing has happened only once or twice.
Re: Harper Lee - I look forward to reading the book and enjoying it. Period. End of story.
10
I'm on a waiting list at Book Soup in West Hollywood. Can't wait to read it and everything else is just an excuse for a news story.
3
I see Harper Collins has the PR team posting.
2
Elder abuse? Intrigue? Family squabbles? Family loyalties? Poor writing? Excellent writing? Writer's Nerves? Well planned intrigue just to create a furor? Who knows? I sure don't...I have not any way to judge. I hope it was just a publicity stunt to earn Ms. Lee more money...but suspect we'll never know.
Whatever...but of course, I keep reading these articles...
Whatever...but of course, I keep reading these articles...
3
If you think the book is goo then it is good, and all the other hype does not matter.
2
Why is it "good" if you think it's "goo"?? (lol)...
And all of this matters why? It has been some 50? years since "Kill", what difference does a few months make one way or the other. I guess literary wags just need something to talk about. When we read the book we will find out if all of the hype was worth it.
3
Seems you need something to talk about, too, because you wrote a comment in response to the article. (-:
1
Lots of things happen after we die. Fortunately we are no longer around having to deal with them. It is really quite a shame that the buzzards circling Harper Lee couldn't wait a few years for the inevitable death of this beloved author before picking at her bones. Of course, I haven't seen this "new" book so I don't know any more about it's literary merits than anyone else, but it sounds like it might have been better saved until after her death for publication as an annotated scholarly volume along with the great book that it finally became.
41
Here's the link to an illuminating "Smithsonian" article from back in 2010.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/harper-lees-novel-achievement...
Best tidbit:
"After she moved to New York City in 1949, she struggled for years with a hodgepodge of anecdotes about small-town Southern life, first called Go Set a Watchman and then Atticus. She received encouragement from an agent, Maurice Crain, and an editor, Lippincott’s Tay Hohoff, who had seen the work-in-progress, but one night in 1957 she flung the unfinished manuscript out the window of her Manhattan cold-water flat. After a teary phone call to Hohoff, Lee charged down the stairs, recovered the forsaken pages—and then began a title-on-down revision that resulted in a book that would become..."
The article goes on to state that Alice claimed that it was the manuscript of a second novel that was stolen from there home (not the GSAW manuscript).
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/harper-lees-novel-achievement...
Best tidbit:
"After she moved to New York City in 1949, she struggled for years with a hodgepodge of anecdotes about small-town Southern life, first called Go Set a Watchman and then Atticus. She received encouragement from an agent, Maurice Crain, and an editor, Lippincott’s Tay Hohoff, who had seen the work-in-progress, but one night in 1957 she flung the unfinished manuscript out the window of her Manhattan cold-water flat. After a teary phone call to Hohoff, Lee charged down the stairs, recovered the forsaken pages—and then began a title-on-down revision that resulted in a book that would become..."
The article goes on to state that Alice claimed that it was the manuscript of a second novel that was stolen from there home (not the GSAW manuscript).
13
Thank you for taking the time to supply this extremely informative and interesting link!
8
I have no idea what the real story is here; no doubt, the truth will eventually come out. I do wonder if her lawyer and/or her publishers thought the earlier version of the novel (possibly with some deft editing if necessary) could be transformed into something along the lines of Marilynne Robinson's "Gilead" trilogy, which I personally adore. Same story but from very different points of view; one in first person, the other in third. That's what I'm holding out for, regardless, where "Watchman" is concerned. I'm really hoping, however, it isn't a terrible critical disappointment, because I would hate for "To Kill A Mockingbird," or Harper Lee, to be sullied in any way.
4
No worries ... if the book doesn't measure up, it has no effect on TKAM. It was, and always will be, a great book! And people will always love Harper Lee, no matter what. And how could it sully her? Not possible.
2
Amazing how many people want to believe something sinister is afoot in this case. Ms. Lee has said herself she wants the book published. Objective persons have said that she is in control of her faculties. The new book may be great or not so great, it does not diminish Mockingbird. End of story.
31
Yes, we're told she's in favor. But we're also told she is profoundly deaf, partially blind from macular degeneration, has had at least one stroke, and according to some friends "will sign anything that's put in front of her."
Of course it does not diminish Mockingbird if the new book isn't as good. It's just a shame to see people cashing in on her legacy when she's vulnerable.
Of course it does not diminish Mockingbird if the new book isn't as good. It's just a shame to see people cashing in on her legacy when she's vulnerable.
6
Actually, that's not correct. Ms. Carter says that Lee said she wants it published. So what we have here is a claim of approval being made by one of the people who will profit most from it's publication.
We have no way of knowing whether the publisher has heavily edited the original manuscript or not. We do have evidence that neither Lee, her sister or her original agent or publisher wanted the book published prior to Ms. Carter's "discovery". It's all highly suspicious.
We have no way of knowing whether the publisher has heavily edited the original manuscript or not. We do have evidence that neither Lee, her sister or her original agent or publisher wanted the book published prior to Ms. Carter's "discovery". It's all highly suspicious.
The "proof" is the book. I plan to read it first. As a literary scholar I know that this new book would have come out no matter what, but having the author alive during publication is fortunate and exciting. I'm curious to hear more from Harper Lee on the subject, and lacking an invitation to visit, I'll do the next best thing by looking for her new book to arrive soon.
9
You've got company, Prof. Hochman!
3
Has Ms. Lee explained why she changed her mind about publishing "Watchman"?
11
A few thoughts:
Had this manuscript been found after Miss Lee's death, it would most assuredly been published. So its publication now is no big deal.
What is a big deal, however, is that Miss Lee's lawyer, her so-called "dear friend," has pretended to have discovered this new book years after witnesses place her having seen it. No doubt Sotherby's keeps fairly tidy records of its appraisals.
Finally, it's very odd that whoever read the first page of the manuscript had to continue reading for an hour before realizing that it wasn't "Mockingbird." There's nothing like it -- . Who are these people?
Had this manuscript been found after Miss Lee's death, it would most assuredly been published. So its publication now is no big deal.
What is a big deal, however, is that Miss Lee's lawyer, her so-called "dear friend," has pretended to have discovered this new book years after witnesses place her having seen it. No doubt Sotherby's keeps fairly tidy records of its appraisals.
Finally, it's very odd that whoever read the first page of the manuscript had to continue reading for an hour before realizing that it wasn't "Mockingbird." There's nothing like it -- . Who are these people?
60
It would most assuredly have been . . .
2
Alice Lee was her sister's protector and knew that Nelle didn't want to publish another book because she was convinced that she couldn't write another book that would be the success that was "To Kill a Mockingbird." If Alice were alive, this "new book" would not be published. It's obvious that Go Set a Watchman was the "first draft" of what evolved into TKAM. It's really shameful that once again greed is the driving force in the publication of this book. Too bad Alice Lee didn't burn that manuscript instead of keeping it so that it could fall into the clutches of people who only see dollar signs where she saw her sister and her sister's legacy.
48
What a terrible thing to say ... to burn the manuscript? How dare you even suggest such a thing ... and how do you know that Harper Lee wasn't controlled by her sister and convinced not to publish? The older sister looking out for what's best for younger sister who wants to live in New York, leave Alabama, and make a new life for herself? I'd bet the real shame is that Harper Lee did not live the life she really wanted to live, and was under her sister's thumb for most of her life after the publication of TKAM ...
3
I think that this publication, and how it occurred so shortly after Alice Lee's death, is tantamount to elder-abuse of Miss Nelle Harper Lee. Most states have laws to ensure that older people, especially someone who has suffered a stroke, and is nearly deaf and blind, can be medically assesed regarding their mental status, as to whether they are capable of entering into such a business contract with full comprehension of all the details and ramifications. Why has no one asked that such an assessment be done, for her own protection. Especially as her only reprsentation seems to be from Harper Collins staff.
There are references from more than one source that the book she presented for publication in the late 1950's was originally titled "Go Set A Watcchman". Although given an advance by her publishing house, she was placed under the supervision of a talented editor named Tay Hohoff, who guided a rewriting of the story to set it in the 1930's, in order to focus the social issues from the looking back of an adult Scott to the times of her childhood. What she initially presented to her editor lacked the cohesive flow of a novel. After 2 years of rewriting, and restructuring, "To Kill A Mockingbird" was finally born. Unfortunately, her friends, relatives, and editor who can attest to this have all passed. Why has someone raised doubt so close to publication date, then obfiscated once again. Please leave Miss Lee, and her masterpiece alone. It's all about money. Shame on you!
There are references from more than one source that the book she presented for publication in the late 1950's was originally titled "Go Set A Watcchman". Although given an advance by her publishing house, she was placed under the supervision of a talented editor named Tay Hohoff, who guided a rewriting of the story to set it in the 1930's, in order to focus the social issues from the looking back of an adult Scott to the times of her childhood. What she initially presented to her editor lacked the cohesive flow of a novel. After 2 years of rewriting, and restructuring, "To Kill A Mockingbird" was finally born. Unfortunately, her friends, relatives, and editor who can attest to this have all passed. Why has someone raised doubt so close to publication date, then obfiscated once again. Please leave Miss Lee, and her masterpiece alone. It's all about money. Shame on you!
89
Could very well be that this is the first time she's been liberated since her sister "took her under her wing" back in the 1960s ... Alice seems to have been more than controlling, and one can only imagine that she did not want her tomboyish sister living in New York around the likes of Truman Capote and the rest of the writer crowd of the 60s ... and the publication of another book would have sealed her fate as a Southern expatriate ... she might have had a very different life from the one she did have, being shut up in a stuffy little Southern town in Alabama ... if you've ever lived in the South, especially in the 1950s and 60s, and you're a woman with any kind of career aspirations beyond a Mrs. degree, you'll know what I'm talking about ... there may have been reasons that the sister wanted to isolate Lee and keep her home, away from New York, and the publicity that would come from publishing another book ... just sayin' ... I think it may be safe to say that Lee was jammed into a closet someone else prepared for her ... "for the sake of the family."
4
I'd say the odds are strong that everyman's commentary is historically accurate, and his opinion of the current publishers deserved. But, this can't be known for sure.
My own opinion is...Who Cares! I'm elated to find a first draft of the iconic Mockingbird available. I'll bet the book is well written and I can't wait to meet Scout as a young woman.
My own opinion is...Who Cares! I'm elated to find a first draft of the iconic Mockingbird available. I'll bet the book is well written and I can't wait to meet Scout as a young woman.
1
You may be entirely right about the underhandedness of this whole enterprise. But the Alabama Department of Human Resources did an investigation and determined that Ms. Lee had not been coerced into the book's publication.
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/alabama-officials-find-harp...
That investigation is mentioned right in the article you commented on. Was the investigation adequate? Who knows?
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/alabama-officials-find-harp...
That investigation is mentioned right in the article you commented on. Was the investigation adequate? Who knows?
2
Why should the publisher donate the profits to charity? The author is alive and well; she wrote the book and approved the publication - not just once, but several times, and after an investigation by the State of Alabama it was found that she heartily approves the publication. She deserves the money from the publication of her early effort.
13
It hard to miss the whiff of opportunism and venality behind this "discovery".
59
With 2 million copies pre-ordered, control of the narrative seems to be working for these folks. One wonders then if the manuscript has undergone a major revision since it does sound like the original manuscript needed lots of work. Will we ever know? Will this book really have been the work of Harper Lee? It would be a disgrace if the pursuit of the almighty dollar led Lee's lawyer to wait for the sister to die in order to release a bad book that never should have seen the light of day.
81
Most books undergo revision before publication, and TKAM did, too. So what? Every writer has a great editor ... that's part of the process.
3
Observing Nature: It should be obvious that the value of this draft will be to make available to the general public a significant part of the process that created "To Kill a Mockingbird". If this draft gets tampered with, then that value gets destroyed.
2
Maybe I've missed it, but I keep looking for information about whether Tonja Carter is getting compensated for bringing "Watchman" to light -- either by the publisher or by Harper Lee herself.
Whether she is getting paid would shed light on why it wasn't published while Alice Lee was still alive.
Whether she is getting paid would shed light on why it wasn't published while Alice Lee was still alive.
100
This whole thing has been completely sketchy. I'm hoping the end result, at least, is a worthwhile novel that doesn't take away from her legacy.
45
If the author really wants the novel published, then it should be published. All of the rest is irrelevant.
7
Yeah, right.
Unfortunately, once a writer becomes the author of an acclaimed work, everything previously understood as dross becomes gold. It was of course wise for Ms. Carter to wait until many actors here had died, and Ms. Lee herself is now unable to be a competent witness to the history of the manuscript.
I hope Ms. Lee gets to enjoy a little of the fruits of these shenanigans. The new publication cannot dull the luster of the first; her place in American literature is secure.
But too bad the sharks came out...
Unfortunately, once a writer becomes the author of an acclaimed work, everything previously understood as dross becomes gold. It was of course wise for Ms. Carter to wait until many actors here had died, and Ms. Lee herself is now unable to be a competent witness to the history of the manuscript.
I hope Ms. Lee gets to enjoy a little of the fruits of these shenanigans. The new publication cannot dull the luster of the first; her place in American literature is secure.
But too bad the sharks came out...
74
There are many cases of what the law calls "Undue influence." meaning an abuse of power over a weak or vulnerable person. A common example is a caretaker who influences a dependent older person to change their will in the caretaker's favor. I
It appears suspicious that the recently graduated Tonja Carter had somehow played a role in the sudden reconsideration by a disabled writer, perhaps lacking capacity, to publish a novel the writer had withheld for over half a century. Now it comes to light the the lawyer and confidant has apparently misrepresented the circumstances of the discovery of the manuscript. And how odd that the announcement of the alleged discovery was delayed until the author's sister, an likely witness, was dead.
The primary question that should come to mind is the financial arrangements between Harper Lee and Ms. Carter. Of course, there is now another party with a huge financial stake in the novel, the publisher which has pre-sold two million copies.
Someone with proper standing should file suit for the appointment of guardian of Ms. Lee, and that guardian should not be anyone who stands to gain from the publication. The book might be a masterpiece, but the circumstances certainly raise serious questions of fiduciary misconduct.
It appears suspicious that the recently graduated Tonja Carter had somehow played a role in the sudden reconsideration by a disabled writer, perhaps lacking capacity, to publish a novel the writer had withheld for over half a century. Now it comes to light the the lawyer and confidant has apparently misrepresented the circumstances of the discovery of the manuscript. And how odd that the announcement of the alleged discovery was delayed until the author's sister, an likely witness, was dead.
The primary question that should come to mind is the financial arrangements between Harper Lee and Ms. Carter. Of course, there is now another party with a huge financial stake in the novel, the publisher which has pre-sold two million copies.
Someone with proper standing should file suit for the appointment of guardian of Ms. Lee, and that guardian should not be anyone who stands to gain from the publication. The book might be a masterpiece, but the circumstances certainly raise serious questions of fiduciary misconduct.
69
Since writing the comment above, I searched for information about Carter and quickly found this in depth and enlightening article in Vanity Fair
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2013/08/harper-lee-dispute-royalties
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2013/08/harper-lee-dispute-royalties
1
Thank you very much for posting this very interesting link.
Give the proceeds away. I agree, with the permission of Ms. Lee.
1
HarperCollins, a Murdoch company. Expect little, if anything, that's straightforward & above board about this deal.
69
It's very difficult to believe that Harper Lee wanted this manuscript published. If she had, it would have happened many years ago.
How much does Tonja Carter stand to make off this project?
How much does Tonja Carter stand to make off this project?
119
I am wondering why the Times has devoted considerable resources to this inquiry. Harper Lee obviously signed off on publishing the sequel. Who cares when it was found? If you're trying to suggest something nefarious went on, you're not doing a very good job of it.
5
Actually, they're doing a very good job of it. Just read the comments. There are many skeptical people of the "official" story, per HarperCollins.
1
Noreen Marcus: Come again? A "sequel" written before the original--as a first draft of the original, in fact? That makes no sense.
I'm pretty sure there's far more to this story. I hope and pray no one's attempting to put one over on the American public.
I remember a story a great many years ago, which stated that Ms. Lee wrote the original TKAM story and submitted to her publisher, but was told to go back to the drawing board and write a better story. I think the new book is the original story Ms. Lee wrote and submitted.
She's adamantly said over the years she's never written another book and I think she's telling the truth. This is more than likely the original version of TKAM and that's worth printing anyway and I think, quite valuable, but let's please clarify this situation.
I remember a story a great many years ago, which stated that Ms. Lee wrote the original TKAM story and submitted to her publisher, but was told to go back to the drawing board and write a better story. I think the new book is the original story Ms. Lee wrote and submitted.
She's adamantly said over the years she's never written another book and I think she's telling the truth. This is more than likely the original version of TKAM and that's worth printing anyway and I think, quite valuable, but let's please clarify this situation.
7
It's not that she never wrote another book, it's that she never published another book. If you watch the documentary "Hey, Boo," you'll hear a clip from a radio interview in which she talks about working on another book. She subsequently said (although not in the documentary) that it was as hard to write a bad book as a good one - which could mean she worked long and hard on another manuscript but felt it fell short. And Alice Lee said Nelle had written another book after Mockingbird, but burned the manuscript (see "Mockingbird" by Charles Shields).
4
It seems to me a near certainty that information will eventually surface showing that an elderly, infirm, vulnerable woman has been manipulated by individuals who do not have her best interests at heart. The very elderly may superficially appear to be competent, but on closer examination are often revealed to be easily influenced.
This is shameful, though I expect no shame from the perpetrators.
This is shameful, though I expect no shame from the perpetrators.
107
Why does the lawyer's story about being out of the room remind me of the "rape-victim's" pretext for calling Tom to bust up an old chiffarobe?
24
Enough already of all the hype. I'm buying the book.
6
So you're saying...what?...the "hype" worked for you so you don't need any more?
Sounds nefarious. The publishers should donate profits to charity-perhaps one related to literacy or children's reading.
54
It's an earlier draft, so what? Interesting for scholars but might not play as a work in itself.
We live in a world where sequels are so valuable they keep appearing.
Have to have faith in the publishing editor, that this is indeed something worth reading. I will reserve judgement until I see what it is.
We live in a world where sequels are so valuable they keep appearing.
Have to have faith in the publishing editor, that this is indeed something worth reading. I will reserve judgement until I see what it is.
I agree totally with you. This whole thing's never smelled right to me either. Plus, I think your idea about donating the profits to charity is an excellent one!
17
The author owns the rights to her own work. She can decide what she wants to do with it.
1
The fact people assume being disabled or old means you can't make decisions for yourself is really disturbing to me. Nothing about being blind, deaf or even physically impaired mans you are incapable of making decisions and are "easily manipulated."
Even if she did have dementia: my grandmother has it and Alzheimer's, but you wouldn't be able to make her think she wants something she doesn't. She just has issues with memory.