Book briefs: The cover of Harper Lee's new book and more

'Go Set a Watchman' by Harper Lee
A preview of the cover for Harper Lee's new book 'Go Set a Watchman,' due to be published in July.
Courtesy of HarperCollins

Welcome to your weekly round-up of book news and literary highlights from The Thread.

This week we're counting down the months until Harper Lee's new book and day dreaming about owning a piece of Mr. Darcy's estate.

Sneak peek: The cover of Harper Lee's new book

Ever since the news of Harper Lee's long-lost manuscript broke last month, the literary world has been abuzz about the forthcoming book.

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The U.K. cover of 'Go Set a Watchman'
The U.K. cover of 'Go Set a Watchman'
Courtesy of William Heinemann

The manuscript, titled "Go Set a Watchman," was found last summer but was actually written before the classic "To Kill a Mockingbird." It takes place 20 years after the familiar events of Maycomb, Alabama.

Some have questioned whether the 88-year-old Lee is capable of making the publication decision, but in a statement made through her lawyer, Lee said she's "alive and kicking and happy as well with the reactions to 'Go Set a Watchman.'" HarperCollins just released the first glimpse of the new book, set to be published in July.

The house behind "Pride and Prejudice" now for sale

For the truly Austen-tacious reader, all your "Pride and Prejudice" dreams can come true if you have $7.5 million on hand.

The Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire is for sale. It was once home to the Fourth Earl Fitzwilliam, who is thought to have inspired Austen's brooding love interest, Fitzwilliam Darcy.

The house has five miles of hallways and over 350 rooms — a modest estate. (Did we mention it's in need of $42 million in repairs?)

Katharine Hepburn in "Little Women"
Katharine Hepburn appeared in the film "Little Women" in 1933.
Getty Images 1933

New "Little Women" movie in the works

Louisa May Alcott's classic is getting another big screen makeover.

"Little Women," the beloved story of the March sisters, first hit Hollywood in 1933 when Katharine Hepburn played the role of quick-witted and headstrong Jo March. Jo was later played by June Allyson in a 1949 remake and most recently by Winona Ryder in the 1994 version. The "Little Women" of 1994 had a star-studded cast, with Kirsten Dunst, Claire Danes, Susan Sarandon and Christian Bale.

Can the new version do better? Word is that director Sarah Polley is at helm. We'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, there's always Alcott's sequels: Little Men and Jo's Boys.

Break out the "Green Eggs and Ham," a Seuss museum is in the works

Will you go to Springfield, Mass.?
Will you go there with your class?
Will you see the house of Seuss?
Will you see it with a goose?

Strained impersonations of Dr. Seuss aside, anyone who loves the mind behind "The Cat and the Hat" will enjoy the new Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, set to open in 2016 in the author's hometown of Springfield.

Springfield Museums said visitors will be able to wander through "a series of environments that replicate scenes from Dr. Seuss's imagination and encounter life-sized three-dimensional characters and places from the books."

Finalists announced for the Man Booker International Prize

In case you missed it, the finalists are out for the Man Booker International Prize, which is awarded every two years to an author for his or her contributions to fiction on the world stage. This year's finalists hail from ten different countries.

The winner will be announced in May. You have a few months to catch up on your reading.