Controversy over sequel of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’

Google`s YouTube has recently upgraded its view count system. The number of viewers of Psy’s "Gangnam Style" has exceeded 2.2 billion views, beyond the limit that the system could display. After a global mega hit of "Gangnam Style," Psy released "Gentleman" in 2013 and "Hangover" in 2014, which made in the Billboard’s top 30 singles. With the two songs’ success, Psy shook off the fear of "one hit wonder."

In the pop music, "one hit wonder" means a star who enjoyed the one time popularity. But if it is in the literature, one hit wonder conveys a different meaning. "The Catcher in the Rye" is the only novel of J.D. Salinger. Since the novel was published in 1951, it has established itself as a must-read of the American literature. The novel "Gone with the Wind" is the first and last book written by Margaret Mitchell in 1936, but it is still loved by many readers in the 21st century.

Monroeville, a country village with population of some 6,300 in the state of Alabama, the U.S., is famous as a place where writer Nelle Harper Lee lives in seclusion. Ever since his first book "To Kill a Mockingbird" was published in 1960, Lee has never released a book. As the news spread out that Lee’s sequel "Go Set a Watchman" is to be published in July, out of blue, the investigation authority started an investigation. Doubts are raised that publishing the sequel is against the will of the writer, who has been suffering from clouded mind and memory due to the old age. As criticism grows further over "the elder abuse" or a "financial scam," the state authority started an investigation and concluded that the publication was decided by Lee himself.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" that deals with racial discrimination is one of the greatest best-sellers in the 20th century. The novel was translated into 40 or so languages and more than 40 million copies have been sold around the world. The sequel was written prior to "To kill a Mockingbird," but rejected by publishers. The unpublished manuscripts, which had been believed to be lost, were found last year. The news that a legendary writer’s second book is coming drives readers around the world into excitement. In online retail giant Amazon, the novel topped the best-seller list on the first day of subscription sales. Big publishers in Korea jumped into competition for the publication write. The question of whether the sequel is as good as the original novel arouses curiosity.

mskoh119@donga.com