Harper Lee's Newly-Published Novel May Shatter Some Illusions

[diabeticman]

http://crooksandliars.com/2015/07/harper-lees-newly-published-novel-may

The publication of Harper Lee's first novel, Go Set a Watchman, has been long awaited, and not without controversy. It's out on Tuesday, for everyone, but rumor has it that the first run will be sold out.

The manuscript was written before To Kill a Mockingbird, but publishers rejected it and it was thought to be lost, before it was found and set for publication. The decision to publish it was not without controversy.

Watch the video on the link page. My wife can't wait to get this book.

[pinboy3niner]

1. I've seen the spoiler, and it's a BIG ONE

Some may want to read it without hearing about the spoiler in advance.

[diabeticman]

2. pm me if it is the spoiler my wife knows it makes her want to read it more.

[pinboy3niner]

5. There's only one. nt

[diabeticman]

6. There is one more I heard about.

[pinboy3niner]

7. In any case, I won't spread spoilers. nt

[diabeticman]

9. No problem

[TlalocW]

3. Spoiler

Dumbledore dies.

TlalocW

[pinboy3niner]

4. Not to mention "I see dead people" means...

Bruce Willis.

[lunatica]

8. Yeah

[karynnj]

10. No illusions upset for me - To kill a mocking bird still exists

and can be accepted for what it is now and what it has been for decades.

This is a work of fiction printed at a specific point in time. In fact, the fascinating part to me is that it may be the best example of what the collaboration of a writer and an editor/publisher can accomplish. Obviously the publisher saw enough talent and a story with enough interest to suggest a major rewrite. What is left unsaid is whether it was Lee who changed Atticus or whether that too was suggested.

Was it that going back to use the voice of that wise little girl made her create an idealized father, who would have been consistently good? Maybe the complexity of a man the little girl viewed as good, but who was doing things that her older self was appalled by may have been hard to make realistic. It could also be that her view of her dad became less negative -- note that she moved back to the south at some point in her life.

However, the important thing is that characters in a book don't have "real" pasts. They are who they are on that paper. That earlier versions were different is interesting and there may be some missing parts of the story of how that happened, but what still exists is the book -- exactly as the author and publisher put it out to the public.

No one who loves the character of Atticus needs to change their opinion one iota - he is a character in a book (movie). That should be fixed for all who read or saw it.

[Stardust]

11. I cancelled my pre-order. I want Atticus to remain who he was in TKAM, in my mind.