Buyers eager for Harper Lee's sequel

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Attorney Dan Bailey’s first exposure to “To Kill a Mockingbird” was, oddly enough, not in English class at Sarasota High School in 1962, but rather in art class, when the teacher, passionate about the 1960 novel by Harper Lee, gave students the choice to create something in ceramics or read the book.

Renee Hamill of Phoenix and her daughter, Alexandra Hamill, of Gainesville pose for a photo with their books, "Go Set a Watchman," at Bookstore1Sarasota on Tuesday. Both Hamill's are teachers who encourage their students to read. STAFF PHOTO/DAN WAGNER

Renee Hamill of Phoenix and her daughter, Alexandra Hamill, of Gainesville pose for a photo with their books, "Go Set a Watchman," at Bookstore1Sarasota on Tuesday. Both Hamill's are teachers who encourage their students to read. STAFF PHOTO/DAN WAGNER

He picked the book. But it wasn’t the beloved character of Atticus Finch that sent Bailey to law school.

“My dad told me I was going to law school,” and he did, Bailey said simply.

The attorney, with Williams, Parker, Harrison, Dietz and Getzen, spent part of Tuesday morning talking about the legal aspects of “TKAM” at a launch party for the long-awaited second novel from Lee, “Go Set a Watchman,” at Bookstore1Sarasota. A buffet of Bob Evans biscuits, jam, and sweet tea was laid out for buyers eager to read the new book.

The new book is actually an old book, a manuscript submitted to Lippincott in 1957 and rejected. Lee rewrote the book from the point of view of 6-year-old Jean Louise, nicknamed Scout, at the behest of her editor, Tay Hohoff. The book went on to win the Pulitzer Prize and be made into an Oscar-winning 1962 film starring Gregory Peck that has cemented both the book and movie into American culture. The manuscript came out of a safe-deposit box last year.

The cover of Harper Lee's "Go Set a Watchman." STAFF PHOTO/DAN WAGNER

The cover of Harper Lee's "Go Set a Watchman." STAFF PHOTO/DAN WAGNER

The store had pre-sold about 50 copies of the book, said owner Georgia Court, who herself hadn’t had a chance to crack open a copy. The books were delivered to bookstores nationwide only Monday afternoon. Its publisher, HarperCollins, printed 2 million copies.

A couple dozen early buyers took seats to listen to Bailey, reading the first few pages before he began.

“I’m sure it will be interesting,” said Arlene Klein, who made it to page eight before being interrupted. “I was interested in the book, and as many millions of people did, read ‘To Kill a Mockingbird.'” She had been enamored enough by the character of Scout to name one of her Yorkies after the little girl.

In the new book, Scout is 26, called by her Christian name, Jean Louise Finch, and home from New York for an annual visit with her father, the lawyer Atticus Finch who so memorably defended a black man falsely accused of rape in Maycomb, Alabama, in “TKAM.”

Revelations that “Go Set a Watchman” knocks Atticus down from sainthood have rocked those eager to see where Lee would take her characters.

“I’ve heard a lot that Atticus is portrayed as a bigot,” said Judy Johnston. “He’s much more typical of that period that the self-effacing other person.”

“I’m glad because it’s more realistic for that time,” said Frank Cantrell, who had been anticipating the book since its impending publication was announced last year.

Bailey, who hadn’t been able to locate his childhood copy of “TKAM” and had to buy a new copy to refresh his memory before Wednesday’s presentation, said he, like many, thought of Atticus Finch as an epitome of virtue.

“He had a moral compass that didn’t require periodic calibration,” he said.

Several at the bookstore wondered if Lee’s reluctance to publish “Go Set a Watchman” stemmed from a desire to protect Atticus Finch’s image, and that of her father, on whom the character was based.

“Atticus has really taken on this whole persona,” said Bailey. “There are few characters from literature that have come alive like him.”

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Susan Rife

Susan Rife is the arts and books editor for the Herald-Tribune Media Group. She holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She can be reached by email or call (941) 361-4930. Make sure to "Like" Arts Sarasota on Facebook for news and reviews of the arts.
Last modified: July 14, 2015
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