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The lawyer, the lock box and the lost novel: Harper Lee book mystery widens The lawyer, the lock box and the lost novel: Harper Lee book mystery widens
(34 minutes later)
Harper Lee’s lawyer, who negotiated the deal over this week’s controversial launch of Go Set a Watchman, was allegedly far more intricately involved in searching for the manuscript years ago than previously disclosed, the Guardian has been told.Harper Lee’s lawyer, who negotiated the deal over this week’s controversial launch of Go Set a Watchman, was allegedly far more intricately involved in searching for the manuscript years ago than previously disclosed, the Guardian has been told.
According to the allegations, Tonja Carter instigated a meeting at least four years ago in which the author’s personal safe deposit box was opened and its contents itemized. The new account appears to conflict with Carter’s own version of events, in which the lawyer insisted the manuscript for Lee’s second novel was only found in that same deposit box last August.According to the allegations, Tonja Carter instigated a meeting at least four years ago in which the author’s personal safe deposit box was opened and its contents itemized. The new account appears to conflict with Carter’s own version of events, in which the lawyer insisted the manuscript for Lee’s second novel was only found in that same deposit box last August.
The fresh allegations were levelled by Lee’s former literary agent, Sam Pinkus, who in a statement to the Guardian on Wednesday offered his most complete account yet of the process he claims led to the discovery of Watchman. Pinkus’s statement diverges in several important ways with Carter’s official version of how the new book came to light.The fresh allegations were levelled by Lee’s former literary agent, Sam Pinkus, who in a statement to the Guardian on Wednesday offered his most complete account yet of the process he claims led to the discovery of Watchman. Pinkus’s statement diverges in several important ways with Carter’s official version of how the new book came to light.
In particular, he said that there were two separate meetings held four years ago in which the contents of Lee’s safe deposit box were closely studied. In the first meeting – unreported until now – Pinkus alleges that he and Carter went through the contents of the box and itemized them together, in Lee’s hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, where both Mockingbird and Watchman are set using the fictitious town name of Maycomb.In particular, he said that there were two separate meetings held four years ago in which the contents of Lee’s safe deposit box were closely studied. In the first meeting – unreported until now – Pinkus alleges that he and Carter went through the contents of the box and itemized them together, in Lee’s hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, where both Mockingbird and Watchman are set using the fictitious town name of Maycomb.
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“During a prior visit I made to Monroeville, Ms Carter brought me to the safe deposit box and together we itemized its contents. It was then that we decided to have some of the items appraised, including manuscript pages and the typewriter Nelle purportedly used to type To Kill a Mockingbird,” he said, using Lee’s first name.“During a prior visit I made to Monroeville, Ms Carter brought me to the safe deposit box and together we itemized its contents. It was then that we decided to have some of the items appraised, including manuscript pages and the typewriter Nelle purportedly used to type To Kill a Mockingbird,” he said, using Lee’s first name.
It was only later, he goes on to say, that a rare books specialist from the auction house Sotheby’s, Justin Caldwell, was brought into the picture and asked to appraise some of the contents of the box. That appraisal, first reported by the New York Times, occurred in October 2011.It was only later, he goes on to say, that a rare books specialist from the auction house Sotheby’s, Justin Caldwell, was brought into the picture and asked to appraise some of the contents of the box. That appraisal, first reported by the New York Times, occurred in October 2011.
Pinkus states that the decision to call Caldwell down to Monroeville was made by both he and Carter “only after much discussion between me and Ms Carter regarding the reasons and advisability of having the items appraised”. Pinkus states that the decision to call Caldwell down to Monroeville was made by both him and Carter “only after much discussion between me and Ms Carter regarding the reasons and advisability of having the items appraised”.
Pinkus’s account of the two separate meetings clashes with Carter’s public accounting of events. The lawyer, who took over as Lee’s main legal representative last year following the death of the author’s sister Alice, has been at the heart of confusion relating to the discovery of the long-awaited sequel for To Kill a Mockingbird which was completed 58 years ago. Pinkus’s account of the two separate meetings clashes with Carter’s public accounting of events. The lawyer, who took over as Lee’s main legal representative last year following the death of the author’s sister Alice, has been at the heart of confusion relating to the discovery of the long-awaited sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird, which was completed 58 years ago.
Carter initially said that she had been “stunned” when she stumbled on the manuscript of Watchman last August as she was delving into the contents of the box. Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins, made the same claim that the novel had been “considered to have been lost until fall 2014, when Tonja Carter discovered it in a secure location where it had been affixed to an original typescript of To Kill a Mockingbird”.Carter initially said that she had been “stunned” when she stumbled on the manuscript of Watchman last August as she was delving into the contents of the box. Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins, made the same claim that the novel had been “considered to have been lost until fall 2014, when Tonja Carter discovered it in a secure location where it had been affixed to an original typescript of To Kill a Mockingbird”.
The announcement of the discovery was made in February, just three months after Alice Lee died.The announcement of the discovery was made in February, just three months after Alice Lee died.
Carter has revised her version of events several times since then. On Sunday – the eve of Watchman’s publication – she penned a personal account of the lead-up to the discovery in the Wall Street Journal, which, like HarperCollins, is owned by News Corp.Carter has revised her version of events several times since then. On Sunday – the eve of Watchman’s publication – she penned a personal account of the lead-up to the discovery in the Wall Street Journal, which, like HarperCollins, is owned by News Corp.
In her op-ed, Carter says she was present in October 2011 at a meeting at a bank in Monroeville, when Pinkus and Caldwell, of Sotheby’s, went through the contents of the safe deposit box – in alignment with the Pinkus narrative. But she maintains that she was asked to leave to find a copy of Mockingbird and as a result was not party to the main discussions, and was never told by either of the men that they had found a second book.In her op-ed, Carter says she was present in October 2011 at a meeting at a bank in Monroeville, when Pinkus and Caldwell, of Sotheby’s, went through the contents of the safe deposit box – in alignment with the Pinkus narrative. But she maintains that she was asked to leave to find a copy of Mockingbird and as a result was not party to the main discussions, and was never told by either of the men that they had found a second book.
Pinkus has countered that Carter was present through most of that October meeting, including when a textual comparison was made between Mockingbird and the manuscript of Go Set a Watchman in which it became clear that they had found a completely separate novel.Pinkus has countered that Carter was present through most of that October meeting, including when a textual comparison was made between Mockingbird and the manuscript of Go Set a Watchman in which it became clear that they had found a completely separate novel.
“The review by Ms Carter, me and Mr Caldwell took some time and Ms Carter fully participated,” he told the Guardian.“The review by Ms Carter, me and Mr Caldwell took some time and Ms Carter fully participated,” he told the Guardian.
Pinkus has now gone one step further and said that the meeting in the bank was preceded by an earlier encounter – held some time earlier, and instigated by Carter – in which they itemised the contents of the safe deposit box.Pinkus has now gone one step further and said that the meeting in the bank was preceded by an earlier encounter – held some time earlier, and instigated by Carter – in which they itemised the contents of the safe deposit box.
Carter did not immediately respond to request for comment on the latest claims by Pincus. A spokeswoman for Harper referred questions to Carter. Carter did not immediately respond to request for comment on the latest claims by Pinkus. A spokeswoman for Harper referred questions to Carter.
Pinkus acted as literary agent for Lee until he was dismissed and, in 2013, sued by the author, who complained he had switched the copyright for To Kill a Mockingbird to a company he controlled. That case was settled.Pinkus acted as literary agent for Lee until he was dismissed and, in 2013, sued by the author, who complained he had switched the copyright for To Kill a Mockingbird to a company he controlled. That case was settled.
Go Set a Watchman is set 20 years after Lee’s celebrated work, To Kill a Mockingbird, though it was finished in 1957. The two books share many of the central characters, including Atticus Finch and his daughter Scout, who goes by the name Jean Louise in the newly published book. Go Set a Watchman is set 20 years after Lee’s celebrated work, To Kill a Mockingbird, though it was finished in 1957. The two books share many of their central characters, including Atticus Finch and his daughter Scout, who goes by the name Jean Louise in the newly published book.
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Its publication, while hitting bestseller lists instantaneously, has kicked up a storm of controversy locally and around the world over the revelation that Finch, the moral hero of Mockingbird, has grown old and crotchety in Watchman, emerging as a racist and segregationist. Its publication landed it on bestseller lists instantly – and has kicked up a storm of controversy locally and around the world over the revelation that Finch, the moral hero of Mockingbird, has grown old and crotchety in Watchman, emerging as a racist and segregationist.
Lee, 89, who now lives in an assisted-living home in Monroeville, has insisted through most of her life that she had no intentions to publish another novel following the runaway success of To Kill a Mockingbird. However, according to accounts given by Carter and her publisher and some friends, she changed her mind and is delighted by this week’s launch of her second novel.Lee, 89, who now lives in an assisted-living home in Monroeville, has insisted through most of her life that she had no intentions to publish another novel following the runaway success of To Kill a Mockingbird. However, according to accounts given by Carter and her publisher and some friends, she changed her mind and is delighted by this week’s launch of her second novel.
At the time of the February announcement, Lee’s publisher quoted her as saying that the author was “humbled and amazed that this will now be published after all these years”.At the time of the February announcement, Lee’s publisher quoted her as saying that the author was “humbled and amazed that this will now be published after all these years”.