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    James: A Novel

    by Everett, Percival

    “James: A Novel” by Percival Everett is a reimagining of Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” told from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who accompanies Huck down the Mississippi River. Everett subverts the original narrative by centering James’s voice, intellect, and agency, exposing the brutal realities of slavery and racial hypocrisy in 19th-century America. The novel explores themes of identity, freedom, and storytelling, blending sharp satire with poignant humanity. Everett’s masterful prose challenges historical narratives and offers a fresh, critical lens on a classic tale, making it a significant contribution to contemporary literature.

    Author

    • Everett, Percival

    Author Introduction

    • Percival Everett, acclaimed novelist and Distinguished Professor of English, redefines literary narratives with James: A Novel. A Guggenheim Fellow and PEN/Oakland Award winner, Everett’s works challenge conventions, blending satire, philosophy, and cultural critique. His contributions cement his influence in contemporary literature.

    Description

    • “James: A Novel” by Percival Everett is a reimagining of Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” told from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who accompanies Huck down the Mississippi River. Everett subverts the original narrative by centering James’s voice, intellect, and agency, exposing the brutal realities of slavery and racial hypocrisy in 19th-century America. The novel explores themes of identity, freedom, and storytelling, blending sharp satire with poignant humanity. Everett’s masterful prose challenges historical narratives and offers a fresh, critical lens on a classic tale, making it a significant contribution to contemporary literature.

    FAQs

    • What is James: A Novel about?
    • • James: A Novel is a reimagining of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who accompanies Huck down the Mississippi River. Percival Everett’s version offers a sharp, satirical, and deeply humanizing take on the original story.
    • Who is the author of James: A Novel?
    • • Percival Everett, an acclaimed American novelist, short story writer, and poet, is known for his provocative and genre-defying works. His writing often explores themes of race, identity, and social justice.
    • What makes James: A Novel unique?
    • • Unlike Twain’s original, Everett’s novel centers Jim’s perspective, giving voice to a character historically marginalized in literature. The book blends humor, wit, and biting social commentary, making it a fresh and thought-provoking read.
    • Is James: A Novel suitable for fans of classic literature?
    • • Yes, readers who enjoy classic American literature, particularly Twain’s works, will appreciate Everett’s inventive retelling. It offers a modern, critical lens on a well-known story while retaining its adventurous spirit.
    • What themes does James: A Novel explore?
    • • The book delves into themes of freedom, survival, racial injustice, and the power of storytelling. It challenges historical narratives while maintaining a compelling and engaging plot.
    • Has James: A Novel received critical acclaim?
    • • While specific reviews are unavailable here, Percival Everett’s works are widely respected in literary circles. Given the novel’s bold premise, it is likely to spark significant discussion and praise.

    Quotes

    • “At that moment the power of reading made itself clear and real to me.” — Percival Everett, James
    • “Belief has nothing to do with truth.” — Percival Everett, James
    • “I wanted to be certain that they were mine and not some I had read from a book in the judge’s library. I wrote: I am called Jim. I have yet to choose a name.” — Percival Everett, James
    • “Everybody should read fiction… I don’t think serious fiction is written for a few people. I think we live in a stupid culture that won’t educate its people to read these things.” — Percival Everett
    • “The calling out of logical fallacies. And so, after these books, the Bible itself was the least interesting of all. I could not enter it, did not want to.” — Percival Everett, James
    • “I am called Jim. I have yet to choose a name.” — Percival Everett, James
    • “Through his novel James, author Percival Everett brings forward a new voice from the classic American novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and challenges readers to experience this story from an incredibly challenging but important point of view.” — Libromaniacs.com
    1. Part One:Chapter 1
      2,154 Words
    2. Part One:Chapter 2
      2,077 Words
    3. Part One:Chapter 3
      2,223 Words
    4. Part One:Chapter 4
      2,075 Words
    5. Part One:Chapter 5
      2,379 Words
    7. Part One:Chapter 6
      2,417 Words
    8. Part One:Chapter 7
      2,084 Words
    9. Part One:Chapter 8
      2,150 Words
    10. Part One:Chapter 9
      2,101 Words
    11. Part One:Chapter 10
      2,247 Words
    12. Part One:Chapter 11
      2,554 Words
    13. Part One:Chapter 12
      1,776 Words
    14. Part One:Chapter 13
      2,275 Words
    15. Part One:Chapter 14
      2,339 Words
    16. Part One:Chapter 15
      2,216 Words
    17. Part One:Chapter 16
      2,551 Words
    18. Part One:Chapter 17
      1,931 Words
    19. Part One:Chapter 18
      2,123 Words
    20. Part One:Chapter 19
      2,014 Words
    21. Part One:Chapter 20
      1,991 Words
    22. Part One:Chapter 21
      2,456 Words
    23. Part One:Chapter 22
      2,103 Words
    24. Part One:Chapter 23
      2,143 Words
    25. Part One:Chapter 24
      1,969 Words
    26. Part One:Chapter 25
      2,460 Words
    27. Part One:Chapter 26
      2,319 Words
    28. Part One:Chapter 27
      2,239 Words
    29. Part One:Chapter 28
      2,120 Words
    30. Part One:Chapter 29
      2,271 Words
    31. Part One:Chapter 30
      2,215 Words
    32. Part One:Chapter 31
      2,195 Words
    33. Part One:Chapter 32
      2,701 Words
    34. Part Two:Chapter 1
      2,343 Words
    35. Part Two:Chapter 2
      2,131 Words
    36. Part Two:Chapter 3
      2,366 Words
    37. Part Two:Chapter 4
      2,209 Words
    38. Part Two:Chapter 5
      2,206 Words
    39. Part Two:Chapter 6
      2,261 Words
    40. Part Two:Chapter 7
      2,015 Words
    41. Part Two:Chapter 8
      2,234 Words
    42. Part Two:Chapter 9
      2,013 Words
    43. Part Three:Chapter 1
      2,102 Words
    44. Part Three:Chapter 2
      2,210 Words
    45. Part Three:Chapter 3
      2,348 Words
    46. Part Three:Chapter 4
      2,315 Words
    47. Part Three:Chapter 5
      2,052 Words
    48. Part Three:Chapter 6
      2,198 Words
    49. Part Three:Chapter 7
      2,209 Words
    50. Part Three:Chapter 8
      2,158 Words
    51. Part Three:Chapter 9
      2,049 Words
    52. Part Three:Chapter 10
      2,007 Words
    53. Part Three:Chapter 11
      2,211 Words
    54. Part Three:Chapter 12
      2,053 Words
    Ongoing April 2, 2025Apr 2, '25 117.2 K Everyone

    Quotes

    “At that moment the power of reading made itself clear and real to me.”

    — Percival Everett, James

    “Belief has nothing to do with truth.”

    — Percival Everett, James

    “I wanted to be certain that they were mine and not some I had read from a book in the judge’s library. I wrote: I am called Jim. I have yet to choose a name.”

    — Percival Everett, James

    “Everybody should read fiction… I don’t think serious fiction is written for a few people. I think we live in a stupid culture that won’t educate its people to read these things.”

    — Percival Everett

    “The calling out of logical fallacies. And so, after these books, the Bible itself was the least interesting of all. I could not enter it, did not want to.”

    — Percival Everett, James

    “I am called Jim. I have yet to choose a name.”

    — Percival Everett, James

    “Through his novel James, author Percival Everett brings forward a new voice from the classic American novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and challenges readers to experience this story from an incredibly challenging but important point of view.”

    — Libromaniacs.com

    FAQs

    What is James: A Novel about?

    • James: A Novel is a reimagining of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man who accompanies Huck down the Mississippi River. Percival Everett’s version offers a sharp, satirical, and deeply humanizing take on the original story.

    Who is the author of James: A Novel?

    • Percival Everett, an acclaimed American novelist, short story writer, and poet, is known for his provocative and genre-defying works. His writing often explores themes of race, identity, and social justice.

    What makes James: A Novel unique?

    • Unlike Twain’s original, Everett’s novel centers Jim’s perspective, giving voice to a character historically marginalized in literature. The book blends humor, wit, and biting social commentary, making it a fresh and thought-provoking read.

    Is James: A Novel suitable for fans of classic literature?

    • Yes, readers who enjoy classic American literature, particularly Twain’s works, will appreciate Everett’s inventive retelling. It offers a modern, critical lens on a well-known story while retaining its adventurous spirit.

    What themes does James: A Novel explore?

    • The book delves into themes of freedom, survival, racial injustice, and the power of storytelling. It challenges historical narratives while maintaining a compelling and engaging plot.

    Has James: A Novel received critical acclaim?

    • While specific reviews are unavailable here, Percival Everett’s works are widely respected in literary circles. Given the novel’s bold premise, it is likely to spark significant discussion and praise.

    Note