A second book by Harper Lee, titled “Go Set a Watchman,” is generating significant buzz, and its impending commercial success seems all but certain. However, a shadow of conspiracy theory looms over its release, propelling public curiosity.
At the heart of this mystery is a debate about the true authorship of Harper Lee’s classic, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which was published in 1960 and is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature. Over the years, the book has sold over 30 million copies worldwide. The theory suggests that perhaps Truman Capote, Lee’s childhood friend, could have been the real talent behind her acclaimed work.
Capote’s connection to “To Kill a Mockingbird” is personal; one of the book’s characters was inspired by him. Moreover, Lee assisted Capote in his research for the immensely successful “In Cold Blood,” published in 1966. As Lee wrote only one book and subsequently withdrew from the literary world, while Capote continued to produce a prolific body of work, questions arose about whether Capote might have ghostwritten Lee’s novel. The hypothesis was further fueled by doubts about why a writer of Lee’s caliber would have only one publication to her name.
Despite occasional denials, the speculation endured, with claims that Capote had envied Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning success. The ongoing speculation sets the stage for “Go Set a Watchman,” Lee’s upcoming sequel to her original work. As readers eagerly await its release in July, they can’t help but wonder if it will live up to the literary greatness of its predecessor.