Characters

• Jim (James): The protagonist, a 27-year-old enslaved man whose journey of resilience begins after Miss Watson plans to sell him. Everett presents Jim as literate and strategic, outwardly pretending ignorance while intending to reunite with his family. His paternal connection with Huck prompts reflections on race and identity.

• Huckleberry Finn (Huck): Huck, a young white boy escaping an abusive home, becomes Jim's travel companion. Everett presents Huck with depth through his interactions with Jim. Learning that Jim is his biological father challenges Huck's understanding of family and race, leading to his maturation and awareness of societal complexities.

• The King and The Duke: A pair of conmen whose fraudulent schemes culminate in their attempt to sell Jim. 

• Norman: An enslaved man seeking freedom by passing as white, Norman embodies the intricate identity struggles in a racially divided society. While navigating two worlds, he deals with the emotional toll of living a facade. Norman becomes a crucial ally to Jim, challenging the precariousness of life under slavery until his tragic end.

• Daniel Decatur Emmett: A historical figure and minstrel troupe leader, Emmett represents the exploitation Jim battles. Jim's escape from Emmett reflects his quest for self-identity and freedom in the face of systemic oppression.

Themes

Race and identity

Everett portrays Jim navigating the expectations of white society by adopting "slave talk," emphasizing imposed stereotypes of inferiority. Privately, Jim and others communicate fluently and express intellectual depth. Jim teaches his daughter Lizzie to use incorrect grammar to appease white oppressors, revealing systemic racism’s influence on identity.

Freedom and agency

In James, freedom is an existential pursuit beyond physical escape. Everett presents Jim’s journey as one of self-actualization, where reading and writing are acts of defiance. Jim’s statement, "With my pencil, I wrote myself into being," reflects his reclaiming of identity and narrative through literacy. His family commitment contrasts with Huck's adventures, highlighting familial duty in his quest for liberation.

Critique and satire

Everett uses satire to critique racial narratives, particularly targeting Twain’s depiction in Huckleberry Finn. Scenarios like Jim’s participation in a minstrel show expose racial constructs and dismantle stereotypes, emphasizing their persistence in cultural narratives.

Language and identity

In James, Percival Everett uses language to address themes of identity, status, and autonomy. Navigating a racially hierarchical society, Jim uses language both as protection and as a tool.

Jim and other Black characters use "slave talk" in the presence of white individuals, enforcing stereotypes of Black intellectual inferiority. Alone, Jim shifts to a more fluent and intellectually rich language. This code-switching serves as a survival strategy, protecting his individuality and intellect while addressing systemic oppression. In dream sequences, Jim’s  dialogues with philosophers like Voltaire underscore his linguistic skill and philosophical insight.

Awards and recognitions

James by Percival Everett received several notable awards, including the 2024 Kirkus Prize for its contribution to contemporary literature and the National Book Award for Fiction. In 2025, the novel earned the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Internationally, James received the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction. The selection committee described it as "a modern masterpiece" for its portrayal of Jim’s journey. 

Quick facts

• Percival Everett’s James is a reimagining of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of Jim, an escaped slave.

• Published in 2024, James won prestigious awards including the Kirkus Prize, the National Book Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.

• Everett read Huckleberry Finn 15 times in a row in preparation for writing James.

• In the novel, Jim is revealed as Huck's biological father, adding complexity to their relationship.

• Everett's portrayal of Jim as intelligent and literate challenges Twain's original depiction and racial stereotypes.

• James retains Twain’s original timeline initially but diverges into its own narrative path toward the end.

• Jim uses language strategically, code-switching between proper English and dialect to navigate oppressive circumstances.

• James incorporates satirical and humorous elements while critically addressing antebellum racism and contemporary racial issues.

• In dream sequences, Jim engages in philosophical dialogues with Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Locke.

• Everett inverts minstrel show conventions with Jim’s ironic participation, emphasizing the absurdity of racial stereotypes.

• The Mississippi River remains a significant symbolic setting throughout the story,  mirroring James’s journey toward freedom. 

• The audiobook version of James is narrated by award-winning actor and playwright Dominic Hoffman, whose performance captures the novel’s depth and humor.  

About the author

Percival Everett (1956-) is a prominent American author, known for exploring race, identity, and culture in his novels. He has contributed to various genres, including satire, westerns, and philosophical fiction. His works, including Erasure (2001) and The Trees (2021), address complex societal issues. The Trees was a Booker Prize finalist and examines the topic of lynching through dark humor and critique. His novel James (2024) reimagines Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, an enslaved man on a quest for freedom. Critically acclaimed, James won the Kirkus Prize, the National Book Award, and a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Everett is a Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Southern California and continues to influence new writers.