Harper Lee's acerbic response to one journalist's letter sent to test her lucidity
The To Kill A Mocking Bird author's plans to release a sequel saw reporters clamouring for answers as to the circumstances of the deal
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.When Harper Lee first announced the release of a To Kill A Mocking Bird sequel, there was some speculation that the author, 88, may well have been pressured into the publishing deal.
Her late sister Alice, a lawyer who administered Lee’s affairs, wrote in 2011: “Harper can’t see and can’t hear and will sign anything put before her by anyone in whom she has confidence.”
In a statement about the concerns, Lee said she was “happy as hell” with her plans for Go Set A Watchman. And those in any further doubt as to her lucidity need only look to journalist Connor Sheets, who received a very acerbic response to his letter asking for details surrounding the new novel.
“I wrote a two-page letter to Harper Lee, following up on my repeated attempts to reach the beloved novelist via her lawyer, publisher and even by visiting her nursing home on the outskirts of Monroeville, Alabama,” Sheets wrote for Al.com.
While he hadn’t expected a reply, he hoped that Lee would be able to confirm she was “fully in control of the destiny of Go Set A Watchman” and that she would be able to “clear up all the questions the world has been waiting to have answered” about the circumstances of the book's release.
“On Wednesday, I received an envelope without a return address, made out to ‘Conner Sheets.,” he continued. “I opened it without fanfare, only to find my letter, wrinkled and refolded, with four words and one punctuation mark scrawled in cursive Sharpie at the bottom: ‘Go Away! Harper Lee.’”
His story was supported by that of the New York Times. The publication wrote: “To those who chase her, who can't leave well enough alone, she has developed a standard response to their proposed interviews: 'Not just no, but hell no.'”
The novel was written before To Kill A Mockingbird but was rejected by publishers who set her to work on the novel that made her famous.
The new book revolves around the now-adult Scout's return to her native Alabama from New York to visit her father.
Lee previously said she had not realised the manuscript of her new book had survived and said she was “humbled and amazed” it was going to be published now.
Go Set A Watchman will be published on 14 July by William Heinemann, the original UK publisher of To Kill A Mockingbird.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments