Percival Everett’s “James” Wins National Book Award

Renowned author Percival Everett has won the National Book Award for fiction for his novel James, a groundbreaking retelling of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

The book, which reimagines the classic tale from the perspective of Huck’s enslaved companion, Jim, has been hailed as a transformative work that explores race, survival, and humanity.

In James, Everett gives a voice to the silenced Jim, portraying him as a literate and introspective man navigating the harsh realities of racism.

Unlike Twain’s original, where Jim’s inner world remains unexplored, James delves into his private thoughts, his behavior away from white characters, and the ways he understood the world around him.

Critics have described the novel as “a slyly funny masterpiece” and praised Everett’s ability to offer a profound new perspective on a literary classic.

In his acceptance speech on Wednesday, Everett reflected on the unifying power of books. “Two weeks ago, I was feeling pretty low, and to tell you the truth, I still feel pretty low,” he said, referencing the recent presidential election.

“But as I look out at this, so much excitement about books, I have to say, I do feel some hope.”

Everett, 67, is no stranger to critical acclaim. His body of work, often centered on race in America, includes dozens of novels and short stories.

His previous works have been recognized with prestigious nominations, including the Pulitzer Prize for Telephone in 2021 and a Booker Prize shortlisting for The Trees in 2022. James follows in the footsteps of these successes, further cementing Everett’s reputation as a literary innovator.

A Long-Awaited Voice for Jim

The idea for James came to Everett in an unexpected moment. Speaking to the BBC earlier this year, he recalled, “I stopped and thought, ‘I wonder if anyone has written Huck Finn from Jim’s point of view?’”

That curiosity became the foundation for the novel, which shifts the focus from Huck’s youthful adventures to Jim’s perspective as a man fighting for freedom.

The original Huckleberry Finn depicts Jim as a fugitive enslaved person running from a looming sale. While Jim’s thoughts remain unspoken in Twain’s narrative, Everett’s retelling amplifies his voice, offering a nuanced portrayal of his intellect, fears, and survival strategies.

Recognition and Controversy

In addition to Everett’s victory, the National Book Foundation awarded Jason De León’s Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling in the nonfiction category.

Lifetime achievement honors went to author Barbara Kingsolver and W. Paul Coates, founder of Black Classic Press.

Coates’ recognition sparked controversy due to his press’s decision to reprint The Jewish Onslaught, an essay criticized as antisemitic.

Addressing the backlash, National Book Foundation Executive Director Ruth Dickey emphasized that Coates was being honored for his broader contributions to publishing, not for any single publication.

“The foundation condemns antisemitism and bigotry but values free expression,” Dickey stated. “Anyone examining the work of any publisher, over the course of almost five decades, will find individual works or opinions with which they disagree or find offensive.

Everett’s award for James adds to a remarkable career that includes adaptations of his work, such as the 2023 film American Fiction, based on his novel Erasure. With James, Everett continues to challenge literary conventions, creating stories that resonate deeply with contemporary readers.