“Watchman” went on sale July 14.
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Set against the backdrop of the civil rights tensions and political turmoil that were transforming the South in the 1950s, Go Set a Watchman is a bold and deeply moving story about humanity, close-knit family relationships, and one woman’s journey to become her own person.
Critics dismissed it as a rough draft for To Kill a Mockingbird and readers despaired over an ageing, racist Atticus Finch.
“Watchman”, which was published by HarperCollins and serves as a sequel of sorts to Lee’s 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning debut novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird“, shattered the publisher’s expectations as faithful “Mockingbird” readers flocked to pre-order and purchase their copies of the book in astounding droves.
The company, part of News Corp., said the novel is the fastest-selling book in its history with 3.3 million copies now in print, according to a statement Monday.
Watchman was released on 14 July and as of early Monday remains at No 1 on Amazon and Barnes & Noble’s websites, with Mockingbird also in the top 10.
The 1.1 million copies sold so far include print, e-book and audio formats, HarperCollins said.
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Questions about the book arose nearly immediately after HarperCollins announced it, with Lee scholars noting that “Watchman” was the work of a young and inexperienced author and friends and admirers of the 89-year-old author worrying that the book had been approved without her participation.
