Outside the Monroe County courthouse, early on a Monday at the end of June, there is a conspiracy afoot.
Harper Lee’s literary agent, Andrew Nurnberg, in a sports shirt and pastel slacks, is looking for breakfast, but if you are a newspaper reporter, he doesn’t want your help.
In fact, he doesn’t want to acknowledge that he is Harper Lee’s agent, Andrew Nurnberg.
“What is it you’d like to say to Andrew?” he says, as if Andrew might be somebody else.
Later, Jonathan Burnham, senior vice president and publisher at the Harper imprint, and Michael Morrison, president and publisher of HarperCollins U.S., are both unaccountably shopping for souvenirs in the courthouse gift shop, and are both equally reticent.
“Is this an interview?” answers Burnham to a reporter’s questions.
Click here to read the complete story in our new immersive format, including video interviews with Andrew Nurnberg and more photos from Bo Emerson's trip to Monroeville. You'll also find links to our extensive coverage of "Go Set a Watchman." The AJC is one of just 10 media outlets to receive an advance copy of the book, so look for our review on July 14.