In their novels both Lee and Green show the loss of idealism in youth and their disillusionment as they grow up, warning about the dangers of idealising people to such an extent we turn them into gods.

Here I’m just spitballing, but the deeper philosophy mingled with bits of comic relief works so well to create a read that’s both entertaining and topical. Now, it may seem a strange comparison, but if anything Go Set a Watchman reminds me of John Green’s Paper Towns. Sure there’s many similarities between this book and TKAM, but instead of using it to build on our knowledge of the pre-existing characters, it should be read as an interesting insight into how Lee’s ideas for TKAM developed so as to produce one of the most remarkable modern classics of our time. The two versions of the character are so different that it’s impossible to view them as the same. Originally, Lee never intended to publish Go Set a Watchman and since it was written before TKAM, it’s ridiculous that some people are reading it as a sequel.Ītticus is an idol to millions, including myself, and just because in Go Set a Watchman he is no longer the same moral compass and, well, a bit of a racist, my opinion on his character in TKAM remains unchanged. Sure, it doesn’t have the wit, punch or polish of TKAM, but to me it seems almost unfair to compare the two. With some harsh truths about the characters we know and love, it’s hard not to be disappointed by Go Set a Watchman. Some of the flashbacks had me in hysterics! Comparing society then to society now reminds me both of how much and how little we’ve changed. Truly, it is an amazing insight into American history, which raises issues that are still topical today.

To set a watchman