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James
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE • KIRKUS PRIZE FINALIST • A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view
In development as a feature film to be produced by Steven Spielberg • A Best Book of the Year of the Year so Far for 2024: The New York Times Book Review, Esquire, W Magazine, Bustle, LitHub
"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.
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Reviews
One of he best books I’ve read in the last five years. Extraordinary! Highly recommended.
By ajgoldbug
It’s obvious why James is a best-seller; the iconic Huck Finn story told through the eyes of the slave Jim. In a time of increased recognition of racism in the history of the US, and during a flood of books accusing whites of racism today, comes James, which cleverly but blatantly manipulates the reader into feeling guilty about past (& present?) racism. All blacks talk “white” English to blacks (with a Southern accent?), but stereotype “slave” English to whites. Among themselves, they are indistinguishable from whites, reminding me of Disney’s Donald Duck stories - they’re just like people, only ducks. But unlike Disney stories, all the whites are uniformly rotten. Even Huck, because it turns out he’s really black. Creative, clever, & entertaining, thoughtfully illustrating how awful slavery was, but too clever by half & too one-sided & manipulative. I felt used after finishing it.
By Novice JR
We need to study the past so we understand how it’s affected our society. The story of James is well written and poignant in the telling.
By Sue CDugan
I know I’m supposed to like it because of very important subject matter. And, I appreciate from that perspective. I just don’t get the hype.
By A-Train35
A true classic
By nkatz1