Harper Lee, the 88-year-old author of the 1960 bestseller and award-winning book "To Kill a Mockingbird," did consent to publish another masterpiece of hers, "Go Set A Watchman," CNN reported.
After a thorough investigation, Alabama officials have found that Lee certainly wanted her book published, downplaying an anonymous complaint that the novelist was pressured or abused to give her consent.
Alabama Securities Commission director Joseph Borg said the investigators have established the fact that Harper expressed desire to publish the controversial novel by voicing her opinions about the matter.
"It was clear to our investigators that she fully understood the questions that were being asked, that she indicated she certainly wanted her book published, and she had her opinions that were voiced during the interview," Borg told CNN on Friday. "And at that point we decided that she certainly knew what was going on."
The agency's findings have eliminated the remaining roadblock for the publishing of "Go Set A Watchman", which is planned for release on July 14 this year.
Believed to be written before Harper's first masterpiece "To Kill A Mockingbird," the novel spawned controversy following an anonymous complaint that Harper was forced to give consent despite vowing not to publish another book. There are also several publications which found the timing of the book suspicious because of the fact that Lee's health was already declining after suffering a stroke in 2007.
Tonja B. Carter, who serves as Lee's legal representative, discovered the draft of "Go Set A Watchman" in the author's belongings and entered into a negotiation with publishing company HarperCollins for the publication of the said book.
Andrew Nurnberg, the literary agent for Harper, said his client is delighted to learn her second novel will be published this year, while calling the filling of the elder abuse complaint involving Lee as both shameful and sad.
"She was surprised when the manuscript, which she had presumed long lost, was found last August and she is both delighted and enthused that it will now be published... We made a determination that Ms. Lee, based on our interview with her, was aware that her book was going to be published. She wanted it published. She made it quite clear she did," Nurnberg issued in his press release via the Telegraph.
The Security Commission closed their investigation on the elder abuse accusation, but Borg did not rule out the possibility of re-opening the case, more so if they received proofs that would establish the claim.
"Should something come up a later date that shows something was wrong, which we have no indication of, we could take another look," Borg said. "But since we had no complaint from the person who in the middle of it all, so there was no reason to maintain the case open."
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