Today, Harper Lee’s first novel since the groundbreaking “To Kill A Mockingbird” was released in over 70 different countries to mixed reviews. Although antcipation for the book’s release was at an all-time high (Amazon reports that it was the most pre-ordered book since the release of the final book in the Harry Potter series), some readers shied away from the book. “Mockingbird” rose to fame for telling of the triumphs of the legendary Atticus Finch, a crusader for equality in the Deep South. But “Watchman” tells the story of a new man – a card-carrying member of the Ku Klux Klan. Ironically, “Mockingbird” was born in 1957 out of the ashes of “Watchman.” It was Lee’s first attempt at writing a novel, featuring a character named Jean Louise “Scout” Finch as an adult, returning home to visit her father in Alabama. Under the direction of her editor, the manuscript was revised to focus the story on Scout’s childhood.
Along with the print release, Caedmon Audio, an imprint of HarperAudio, has announced that Academy Award-winning actress, Reese Witherspoon, will narrate the audiobook edition. “As a Southerner, it is an honor and privilege to give voice to the Southern characters who inspired my childhood love of reading, Scout and Atticus Finch,” said Witherspoon. “I am eager for readers to be transported to a pivotal time in American history in the manner that only Harper Lee’s gorgeous prose can deliver.”
