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James  By  cover art

James

By: Percival Everett
Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
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Publisher's summary

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view

"Genius"—The Atlantic • "A masterpiece that will help redefine one of the classics of American literature, while also being a major achievement on its own."—Chicago Tribune • "A provocative, enlightening literary work of art."—The Boston Globe • "Everett’s most thrilling novel, but also his most soulful."—The New York Times

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 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.

©2024 Percival Everett (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR BY TIME, NPR, THE SEATTLE TIMES, ELLE, THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, AND OPRAH DAILY

“The cult favorite author’s electric new work. . . James completely reimagines one-half of Finn’s famous duo, elevating him from unwitting sidekick to reluctant hero. . . Everett brings that laser-sharp wit to James, creating a radical new American adventure.”—W Magazine

“James offers page-turning excitement but also off-kilter philosophical picaresque. . . Gripping, painful, funny, horrifying, this is multi-level entertainment, a consummate performance to the last."—The Guardian

“Blasted clean of Twain’s characterization, Jim emerges here as a man of great dignity, altruism, and intelligence. . . Clever, soulful, and full of righteous rage, [Jim’s] long-silenced voice resounds through this remarkable novel. Subversive and thrilling, James is destined to become a modern classic.”—Esquire

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Editorial Review

A radical reimagining
In the wake of Percival Everett's renewed attention for Erasure, the 2001 novel that inspired the Oscar-nominated film American Fiction, the author is once again sweeping the literary world off its feet, taking us on a journey down the Ohio River that just as swiftly subverts racist stereotypes in storytelling today. James, a reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn told from Jim’s perspective, can’t help but make a stir in the publishing world, as it places a radical spin on what is not only one of the most challenged classics in public libraries but one of the most frequently debated American satires of all time. Narrator Dominic Hoffman, who recently wowed with his melting pot of accents in James McBride’s The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, expands Jim’s narrative with dignity and grace while preserving the character’s signature dialect. —Haley H., Audible Editor

What listeners say about James

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James

Amazing story revealing the startling truths about the horror of slavery and our country's shameful past. Let it not be our future!

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I Didn’t Want It To End

I always loved Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. This story of James was masterfully written and I really liked the modern conscience that Percival Everett added. Why did it have to end?

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Excellent read

It kept me engaged beginning to end. A must read! The performance was perfect. I will be reading Huck Finn again with a different perspective.

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James!!

Oh my goodness!!! What a fabulous book! I couldn’t put it down (or, rather, stop listening). James makes me proud to be human. Such a great idea to examine the other side of Huck’s friend.

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THIS ONE WILL BE A CLASSIC

This is one of the best books I have ever read, the AUTHOR has done something remarkable, not a word is misunderstood, the central theme is exactly what someone in the year 2024 needs to hear but didn’t know why. The narrator does a superb job of embodying the character, his likeness, his language, his anguish, his personality, his triumph. The ending, UGLY CRY. JAMES ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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If you only read one book this year, this should be it

I recommend reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn before you read James. This book lends itself to audio storytelling so well, the dialects flesh out the words. Heartbreaking and full of hope and promise, James is a journey to the past. You won’t be disappointed.

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Masterpiece!

This book is a masterpiece, and is read superbly by Dominic Hoffman. Cannot recommend it enough!

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Enthralling Performance! Classic!

I found great pleasure in both the choice of words and the mesmerizing performance of the words. As the reader brought the characters to life, I couldn't help but imagine myself experiencing every moment. It is truly a timeless masterpiece of literature, and the reading was executed flawlessly. Listened with a great friend and we were both in awe!

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The power of this novel to make real thoughts that are lost in the mist of history.

It’s creativity, sensitivity, and powerful storytelling. It’s a stereotype destroyer. A book that I’ll miss and will definitely re-read.

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Superb re-creation of Mark Twain's masterpiece

Writer Percival Everett has reimagined the novel Huckleberry Finn for our times. It is brought to life by narrator Dominic Hoffman. From beginning to end it is riveting. Highly recommended.

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