Books

'Go Set a Watchman' Cover Is Revealed!

by Caitlin White

After two months of controversy and speculation of the iconic, aging author's state of mind, Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman cover is finally revealed. Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird sequel is set for a U.S. release on this July 14, if you can believe it. You guys, this book is definitely coming, and I'm going to have to breathe into a paper bag I'm so excited.

In January, Lee announced through her family lawyer that a "lost" To Kill a Mockingbird sequel manuscript had been found, and she intended to publish it this year. Immediately, friends, neighbors, and basically everyone in the literary world were divided. The news was Earth-shattering, fulfilling the dreams of Scout-lovers everywhere. But, Lee, after all, had always said that she never planned on writing or releasing another book. And health concerns with her advanced age had caused rumors that the author was being taken advantage of for monetary gain. The State of Alabama even opened an investigation into the claims, though it found no evidence of the sort. As for Lee? She seems to be her usual feisty self, telling a reporter in no uncertain terms to "Go away."

But now, with the cover reveal of Go Set a Watchman, hopefully we can but the controversy to rest and get giddy excited over Lee's return to literature.

(We had a Watchman cover false alarm two months ago, it looks like.)

Go Set a Watchman publisher HarperCollins told People that the cover design is an homage to the original To Kill a Mockingbird: "It draws on the style of the decade the book was written," said HarperCollins president Michael Morrison.

The U.K. cover takes a slightly different tone:

The publisher is basically planning for bookselling apocalypse and will print 2 million copies for its release. Considering I plan to line my home with 1 million copies, I'd advise HarperCollins to go even higher.