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Personal letters of Harper Lee fail to sell at auction Personal letters of Harper Lee fail to sell at auction
(about 3 hours later)
After much advance press coverage, and in a year of unprecedented interest in the private life of Harper Lee, six personal letters of hers on sale at Christie’s on Friday have failed to sell at auction.After much advance press coverage, and in a year of unprecedented interest in the private life of Harper Lee, six personal letters of hers on sale at Christie’s on Friday have failed to sell at auction.
The six letters were addressed to Lee’s architect friend, Harold Caulfield, and dated between 1956 and 1961, which was the period that Lee wrote her celebrated classic, To Kill a Mockingbird.The six letters were addressed to Lee’s architect friend, Harold Caulfield, and dated between 1956 and 1961, which was the period that Lee wrote her celebrated classic, To Kill a Mockingbird.
Personal letters of Lee’s are rarely publicly available, so their failure to sell no doubt comes as a surprise to their anonymous seller, who is said to have acquired the letters privately. Christie’s had said they were hoping for a sale of up to $250,000 (£163,000). The Guardian’s request for comment from the auction house on the lack of a sale was not returned at press time. Personal letters of Lee’s are rarely publicly available, so their failure to sell no doubt comes as a surprise to Paul Kennerman, the seller, who is said to have acquired the letters privately. Christie’s had said they were hoping for a sale of up to $250,000 (£163,000). The Guardian’s request for comment from the auction house on the lack of a sale was not returned at press time.
Her letters to Caulfield celebrate the eventual success of the book but also record certain difficulties in Lee’s career. In 1956, she wrote of her “longing to get back [to New York], for so many reasons … I simply can’t work here. Genius overcomes all obstacles, etc, and this is no excuse, but I think the record will show the extent of my output at 1539 York [Ave].”Her letters to Caulfield celebrate the eventual success of the book but also record certain difficulties in Lee’s career. In 1956, she wrote of her “longing to get back [to New York], for so many reasons … I simply can’t work here. Genius overcomes all obstacles, etc, and this is no excuse, but I think the record will show the extent of my output at 1539 York [Ave].”
Lee specifically complains that her hometown of Monroeville stymied progress on the novel. “Sitting & listening to people you went to school with is excruciating for an hour – to hear the same conversation day in & day out is better than the Chinese Torture method. It’s enough to make you give up,” she wrote.Lee specifically complains that her hometown of Monroeville stymied progress on the novel. “Sitting & listening to people you went to school with is excruciating for an hour – to hear the same conversation day in & day out is better than the Chinese Torture method. It’s enough to make you give up,” she wrote.
But she pushed through and wrote ruefully of the financial success with which the book was later met. She wrote: “The procurator of Judea is breathing heavily down my neck – all that lovely, lovely money is going straight to the Bureau of Internal Revenue tomorrow.” The letters were also signed with comic pseudonyms, including “the prisoner of Zenda.”But she pushed through and wrote ruefully of the financial success with which the book was later met. She wrote: “The procurator of Judea is breathing heavily down my neck – all that lovely, lovely money is going straight to the Bureau of Internal Revenue tomorrow.” The letters were also signed with comic pseudonyms, including “the prisoner of Zenda.”
In the last six months Lee has been the subject of many headlines, most of them relating to the upcoming release of Go Set a Watchman, the first book she has published since To Kill a Mockingbird appeared in 1960.In the last six months Lee has been the subject of many headlines, most of them relating to the upcoming release of Go Set a Watchman, the first book she has published since To Kill a Mockingbird appeared in 1960.
The surprising announcement of the book was briefly plagued by accusations that Lee had been somehow manipulated by those in charge of her affairs. Lee had credited her “dear friend and lawyer” Tonja Carter with the discovery of the manuscript.The surprising announcement of the book was briefly plagued by accusations that Lee had been somehow manipulated by those in charge of her affairs. Lee had credited her “dear friend and lawyer” Tonja Carter with the discovery of the manuscript.
Alabama authorities subsequently investigated a complaint of “elder abuse” but held it to be unfounded.Alabama authorities subsequently investigated a complaint of “elder abuse” but held it to be unfounded.