Image: Vulture
Earlier this year I featured an article announcing that Harper Lee, celebrated author and 88-year old in reportedly bad health, would be releasing another book related to her classic To Kill a Mockingbird. On that particular day, with so many websites making similar announcements, significant controversy was generated.
Fans posed a number of questions, both pointed and philosophical, regarding the book deal. Had Ms. Lee been in full posession of her faculties when she signed the contract to release the found manuscript? For those who believed the answer was no, how much did such a question matter philosophically, considering that in the current state of publishing, so many manuscripts are published posthumously? The debate has continued and never quite disappeared.
The article linked here presents (in many cases, likely delighted) literary fans with news regarding upcoming publications. With contributions from Shirley Jackson to Ayn Rand to Dr. Seuss, these tomes certainly have built-in audiences. The circumstances regarding the publication deals vary, but each will never lose that stamp of "posthumous." Check out this list of eight new literary offerings from dead authors and let use know whether you have any strong opinions on the issues mentioned here.