Alabama Says Harper Lee Wasn't Coerced Into Publishing Second Novel

An investigation by Alabama officials found that the 88-year-old “To Kill a Mockingbird” author Harper Lee was not forced to publish her upcoming second novel titled “Go Set a Watchman” (Lee had a stroke in 2007 and is in assisted-living).

The New York Times reports:

Bobby Segall, a lawyer for Ms. Carter, confirmed receipt of the letter, which was dated April 1 and sent by the State Department of Human Resources, the agency that has led the inquiry into whether Ms. Lee was coerced into agreeing to publish a sequel to “To Kill a Mockingbird” this summer.

Mr. Segall said that neither Ms. Carter nor he had any further comment. The inquiry was begun in response to at least one anonymous complaint brought to state officials.

A spokesman for the Human Resources Department, Barry Spear, said that the agency had wrapped up its investigation and sent Ms. Carter a letter, but he said that he was prohibited by law from discussing the inquiry’s findings.