In February, publishers discovered Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” an “early draft” of the beloved American classic “To Kill a Mockingbird.” “Watchman,” you’ve probably heard, is fairly different from its later iteration. In that spirit, here a few other recently discovered early drafts of our favorite books:

The Sound of Silence: Captain Von Trapp is an embittered atheist who forbids his seven children from leaving the house. When a suitor comes mewling after his daughter, he shoots him and buries him in the garden under the gazebo by moonlight. When a new governess arrives, he fires her on the spot, then sends the lot to boarding school in Connecticut.


Adjunct Annie: After what, in hindsight, was a not-so- idyllic life as a child in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island, a failed academic must face up to the realities of the “worth” of her long-fought-for teaching credentials, and the fact that they are only recognized in Canada. She traces all of her problems back to a mix-up in the orphanage and hires a lawyer to sue the Cuthberts, the “family” that raised her as their own, for not attempting to rectify the error.

The Poisoned Waters of Wonkaville: Nonfiction account of the hundreds of deaths and bizarrely colored cancerous growths documented by health officials decades after a chocolate factory was closed in England. The book concludes with the trial on indecent exposure charges of William “Look at My Willy” Wonka.

The Little B*tch of Bangalore: A dystopian tale of a surly
little girl, Mary Lennox, left behind in a city in India, where everyone has died of cholera, and the last of her playmates have been whisked away to England where they frolic in magical walled gardens.

Pollyanna, Invalid of Beldingsville: A young girl struck by an automobile withers and dies in her bed, as everyone in the town agrees she has nothing to live for.

Dolittle Gardens: A quirky bachelor who “talks” to animals is discovered to be living with his spinster sister among the excrement, feathers and detritus of a veritable zoo of creatures.

Black Beauty and the Glue Game : An obscure London glue chemist rises to prominence after discovering a method for using the cartilage of only the most sensitive horses to form a base for his product.

More Rabbit Pie Recipes: The McGregors, popular TV hosts of “Banish the Bunny,” Scotland’s leading rabbit exterminator and high street furrier “it” couple, share their simple to follow tips and techniques for putting those garden pests to their best use once and for all.

Les Heureuses: Bob Javert, a police inspector in France, takes early retirement and marries a pregnant young factory worker, Fanny, to save her honor. But he finds himself completely obsessed with a hunk, Jean Valjean, he met years ago in another town. One day, he thinks he sees him, and it sparks his single-minded pursuit again. Together, they open a popular patisserie.

 The Adventures of Rob: Robin Lockesley sees an old woman drop her life’s fortune — a huge bag of coins — in the market. He rushes in, kicks it further into the hay and retrieves it, little by little, to fund his weekend dream home in Sherwood Forest. Once it’s built, he alienates his rag-tag band of misfit neighbors.

No Tail in the City: Sydney Carton thought lovely Lucie Manette would come around once her precious Charles died in the guillotine, especially since everyone said they were as alike as twins. But she still spurns him, so he spends his nights and weekends playing pick up paille maille in the Tuileries, brooding in cafes and going on meaningless dates during which he complains, vaguely, to the waitresses.