April 6, 2015

Investigation into Harper Lee’s mental stability closed

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We have already reported extensively on the controversial publication of Harper Lee’s forthcoming novel Go Set a Watchman, but the New York Times reports that as of Friday, the investigation into Lee’s mental stability had been officially closed “and no evidence of abuse or neglect has been found.”

“We traveled to the nursing home to talk to Ms. Lee at the request of the Alabama Department of Human Resources,” said a representative of the Alabama Securities Commission; “We have since close out files on the matter.” Rules of confidentiality prevent the agency from adding further commentary.

AL.com reports that the Department of Human Resources “would typically alert the securities commission if there were a question of whether an elderly person was of sound mind to handle his or her finances, or if they were thought to be at risk of financial abuse.”

As of this writing, HarperCollins proceeds with plans for a July publication, and has recently released a finalized jacket design for the hardcover edition of Go Set a Watchman, below.

go set a watchman

Taylor Sperry is an editor at Melville House.

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