James (Pulitzer Prize Winner): A Novel
A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and ferociously funny, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view.
From the “literary icon” (Oprah Daily), Pulitzer Prize Finalist, and one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime
When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.
While many narrative set pieces of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain in place (floods and storms, stumbling across both unexpected death and unexpected treasure in the myriad stopping points along the river’s banks, encountering the scam artists posing as the Duke and Dauphin…), Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light.
Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a “literary icon” (Oprah Daily), and one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime, James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.
From the “literary icon” (Oprah Daily), Pulitzer Prize Finalist, and one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime
When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father, recently returned to town. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and too-often-unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.
While many narrative set pieces of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn remain in place (floods and storms, stumbling across both unexpected death and unexpected treasure in the myriad stopping points along the river’s banks, encountering the scam artists posing as the Duke and Dauphin…), Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion are shown in a radically new light.
Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a “literary icon” (Oprah Daily), and one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime, James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
El autor estadounidense es un maestro en el manejo del lenguaje, la comicidad en sus obras, en la reconstrucción del paisaje cultural, en describir situaciones sensibles, en la creación de personajes con mucha profundidad sicológica y, sobre todo, en pintar la conciencia de las diferencias raciales que han dividido por siempre la nación americana. Estos elementos están todos presentes en esta re escritura de Las aventuras de Huckleberry Finn (1884) de Mark Twain, pero, desde la perspectiva del esclavo Jim.
La historia de un esclavo negro que escapa por el miedo de ser vendido por parte de su dueña y de ser separado de su esposa e hija es el hilo conductor de la novela. Huckleberry, un niño blanco de trece años, que también escapa de las garras de un padre maltratador, se encuentra en el camino con Jim, el esclavo. Juntos viajan por el río Missipippi, al igual que en la novela de Twain, hacia el Sur, en dirección contraria al Norte en donde el esclavo podría eventualmente encontrar la libertad y regresar para comprar a su familia. Al final ambos regresan y enfrentan diferentes situaciones que se alejan de la novela de Twain de una manera muy original.
En esencia la trama es similar, pero el punto de vista del esclavo, que sabe leer y escribe esta historia en primera persona, y la mirada contemporánea hacen que sea una novela fundamentalmente diferente a la de Twain, muy entretenida y dinámica. Muy recomendada.
thenextgoodbook.com
What’s it about?
This is a reimagining of Huck Finn and Jim’s story.
What did it make me think about?
How much our expectations of people tend to color our view of them.
Should I read it?
This was a very well-written story about Huck Finn and the character of Jim. It centers on what we expect from those around us. Percival Everett gives us a new version of the character Jim. A version where Jim understands and utilizes the power of expectations. I enjoyed it.
Quote-
“Why on earth, would you think that I can’t imagine the trouble I’m in? After you tortured me and eviscerated me and emasculated me and left me to burn slowly to death, is there something else you’ll do to me? Tell me, Judge Thatcher, what is there that I can’t imagine?”
“ I had never seen a white man filled with such fear. The remarkable truth, however, was that it was not the pistol, but my language, the fact that I didn’t conform to his expectations, that I could read, that had so disturbed and frightened him.”
What’s it about?
This is a reimagining of Huck Finn and Jim’s story.
What did it make me think about?
How much our expectations of people tend to color our view of them.
Should I read it?
This was a very well-written story about Huck Finn and the character of Jim. It centers on what we expect from those around us. Percival Everett gives us a new version of the character Jim. A version where Jim understands and utilizes the power of expectations. I enjoyed it.
Quote-
“Why on earth, would you think that I can’t imagine the trouble I’m in? After you tortured me and eviscerated me and emasculated me and left me to burn slowly to death, is there something else you’ll do to me? Tell me, Judge Thatcher, what is there that I can’t imagine?”
“ I had never seen a white man filled with such fear. The remarkable truth, however, was that it was not the pistol, but my language, the fact that I didn’t conform to his expectations, that I could read, that had so disturbed and frightened him.”
An extremely hyped book that delivers. James is witty and exuberant and biting and incisive all at the same time. A romp to read through while still incredibly smart and thought-provoking. What more could you ask for?
Greetings,
Did you know James by Percival Everett has won 2025 Pulitzer Prize- Fiction winner? Here’s a NPR coverage on this: https://npr.org/2025/05/05/nx-s1-5381150/pulitzer-prizes-2025
Here is a recap of February’s book discussion questions: https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/share/g2t5eHTUiuHmysyYYaSxeu7wi7ZDUR3V7lt9W-Bd7cNi0TmVOsS3cQD379aLPRF9.9RV9wltAakb0uEAG
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.