Surrounded by publishing acquaintances, Harper Lee lunched in Monroeville, Alabama, roughly two weeks ago to celebrate the release of her long-lost, 58-year-old novel Go Set a Watchman. What made the outing extra special was the presence of filmmaker Mary McDonagh Murphy, who nabbed exclusive video footage and pics of the elusive author for PBS — a first since news broke months ago about the writer’s exit from the one-hit-wonder book club. In this American Masters web video, Murphy & Co. shed more light on the book’s torturous publishing journey in one-on-one video interviews with Lee’s lawyer, agent, and friends.
“It’s not Mockingbird,†Lee’s lawyer, Tonja Carter, says. “Anybody expecting the wonderful, flowing flower of Mockingbird might be disappointed, because this is a first submission. It is a complete book, but it is not edited.†In a 1950s-dated note from Lee’s original agent to an editor, Watchman is called an “eye-opener for many Northerners, as to Southern attitudes, and the reasons for them in the segregation battle.†It was reportedly Lee’s attempt at “a race novel, a Victorian novel, a novel about Monroeville.†Lee’s voice can be heard (sans footage) in quick sound bites throughout the clip. In one instance Michael Morrison, president of HarperCollins, presents Lee with a copy of Watchman, to which she replies: “Wonderful. … Thank you.†When asked if she ever thought she’d see the novel get published, you can also hear Lee remark: “Of course, I did — don’t be silly.†Watchman (first chapter available here) comes out tomorrow.