For decades, she has been considered a one-book author. So Harper Lee’s announcement that her second novel, Go Set a Watchman, will be published soon has caused a stir.
The mood was summed up by Tom Weldon, chief executive of Penguin Random House, in his appraisal of her famous book, To Kill a Mockingbird, which was written after Go Set a Watchman but published in 1960.
He said it was “no surprise that time and again it is voted best loved by both the reading public and by educators. The story of this first book – both parent to To Kill a Mockingbird and rather wonderfully acting as its sequel – is fascinating”.
Read more: To Kill a Mockingbird author Lee to publish new novel
Elsewhere in the publishing world, there was shock.
NEW HARPER LEE NOVEL. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. http://t.co/4X59bCkHPY
— Rebecca Schinsky (@RebeccaSchinsky) February 3, 2015
Among writers and journalists there were jokes about Ms Lee’s tardiness and the quality of her prose.
Harper Lee to publish a second novel, 55 years after To Kill A Mockingbird. And I thought I was useless with deadlines.
— Chris Hewitt (@ChrisHewitt) February 3, 2015
Harper Lee needs to learn when to give it a rest.
— Danny Wallace (@dannywallace) February 3, 2015
I’m sure you all realize this Harper Lee novel must not be good because why would she have kept it in her desk for 50 years?
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) February 3, 2015
Author Caitlin Moran compared it to David Bowie’s surprise decision to release a new single in 2013 and Kate Bush’s return to the stage in 2014.
THEREâ??S GOING TO BE A SEQUEL TO â??TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRDâ?????? Oh this is â??David Bowie Surprise Singleâ?/Kate Bush tour ALL OVER AGAIN.
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) February 3, 2015
Former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan showed he has lost none of his tabloid sparkle with this gem.
To Overkill A Mockingbird.
#HarperLee
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 3, 2015
There were allusions to Ms Lee’s status as an author studied by generations of children in schools in the US and Britain.
Harper Lee publishing a new book must be SparkNotes dream come true
— Tim Stanley (@timothy_stanley) February 3, 2015
And surely this cannot be true? It is.
There are fools out there who think that Harper Lee is a man http://t.co/Z1pw8ZkJAc
— GuardianUS (@GuardianUS) February 3, 2015