Amid the skepticism already surrounding the upcoming release of Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman is the deeply disappointing revelation that Atticus Finch -- long considered the upstanding hero in To Kill a Mockingbird -- has grown into a racist.
The New York Times published a review of Watchman on Friday, which revealed Finch's upsetting change of heart, much to the dismay of Mockingbird fans.
The book was originally a rejected first draft of what would eventually become Lee's beloved first novel, after publishers requested that she focus more on Scout's young life. Watchman hits bookstores on July 14.
The revelation came just one day before Mockingbird's 55th anniversary on Saturday, and fans naturally expressed their unhappiness online:
Maybe there's a reason why Harper Lee never published the novel she wrote before Mockingbird.— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 11, 2015
I think it's likely the Atticus she created in Mockingbird isn't same character at all, just same name. Novelists do that.— Scott Simon (@nprscottsimon) July 11, 2015
If Atticus Finch being a racist is making you upset just remember we will never truly own anything and life is fleeting— Jaya Saxena (@jayasax) July 11, 2015
Rough day for kids named after Atticus Finch. He's a racist in new Harper Lee novel. http://t.co/iNAguQ37Dl— Clay Travis (@ClayTravisBGID) July 10, 2015
Harper Lee's new book is basically a bizarro world version of TKAM http://t.co/yWqREKoZ3X pic.twitter.com/M4M2zYKMFS— Patrick Kulp (@PatrickKulp) July 11, 2015
can i just say that i am super bummed the atticus finch stuff has been ruined for me by the internet before ive even read the new book— ಠ_ಠ (@MikeIsaac) July 11, 2015