Harper Lee’s Unpublished Works to Be Released

Evanne Evans, 17 Mar 2025

The literary world is abuzz with news of the forthcoming release of Harper Lee’s unpublished works, decades after the celebrated author’s passing. Famed for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee left behind an enduring legacy—one that is about to be enriched with new material shedding further light on her creative genius.

What Are Harper Lee’s Unpublished Works?

Among the unpublished manuscripts are a collection of short stories and two novels, reportedly including The Reverend, a Southern Gothic tale about racial tensions in Alabama, and an unfinished sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird exploring the adult lives of Scout and Jem Finch. There are also essays showing rare insights into Lee’s observations on civil rights, community, and identity in mid-20th-century America. These works promise to expand the scope of Lee’s literary universe, offering new perspectives on themes of justice, morality, and Southern life. How Were They Found?

The unpublished material was discovered during an archival review by the Harper Lee Estate in Monroeville, Alabama. Legal representatives, while cataloguing Lee’s personal papers and correspondence in preparation for a new biography, uncovered several boxes of handwritten and typed manuscripts in a locked safe. These were authenticated by literary scholars and handwriting experts, confirming the works as authentic.

Why Will They Be Released, and Who Is Involved?

The decision to release the works arises from a desire to honor Lee’s cultural impact on literature. The Harper Lee Estate, in collaboration with HarperCollins Publishers, has chosen to make the manuscripts available to the public beginning in spring 2026. Part of the decision is rooted in Lee’s own correspondence, which expressed hope that her unreleased stories could contribute to fairer civil rights around the world.