Every Man’s Watchman is His Conscience
A review of Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
By Julia A. Keirns
Once again, the writing of Harper Lee pulled me in and took me back to a time in Alabama when the integration of blacks and whites was just beginning. It is brilliantly written and keeps me turning page after page. Her writing is compelling and humorous, and I love reading her words.
I understand this novel was actually the first draft that Lee wrote and then when it wasn’t quite good enough, completely changed it and wrote the other draft for publication first. This draft was not edited and published until 2015. It really does help continue the story and deal a lot more with the equal rights issues that were being dealt with in the 1950’s.
Scout, Jean Louise Finch, now an adult, lives in New York City and goes back home to Alabama to visit her father Atticus. Through events that happen she realizes that he is just a man who must deal with all of the community issues in whatever way he can. Her childhood image of his complete goodness is burst. Her father realizes that she too is now an adult and must make her own decisions regarding segregation and equal rights.
“Well, I certainly hoped a daughter of mine’d hold her ground for what she thinks is right – stand up to me first of all.”
This book is not actually considered a classic, yet, but as a companion novel to one of the best classics ever written, and since it actually was written back in the 1950’s, I felt it deserved a spot. As I read the classics, I especially enjoy reading the sets or sequences together. If you loved “To Kill A Mockingbird” then this book is a must-read for you as well.