The Mississippi River, 1861.
James, an enslaved man, is referred to by his owners as “Jim” and carries two secrets, one being that he can read and write, while the other is hinted at throughout the book but only confirmed near the end. When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a new owner in New Orleans and separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson’s Island until he can formulate a plan.
Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father who recently returned to town. Thus begins a dangerous and transcendent journey by raft along the Mississippi River toward the elusive promise of free states and beyond.
James and Huck’s terrifying and enthralling tale involves kidnapping, shipwreck, and murder as James tries to reach the free states to the north where he plans to raise the money to buy his family into freedom.
Twain tried to humanize Jim in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn but the novel reflected the attitudes of the 19th century American South more than it challenged them. Everett redresses these failings, giving voice and individuality to James, and exposing the stupidity of racism in a horrific story which is beautifully told.
Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made the author of the book, Percival Everett, a “literary icon” (Oprah Daily), and one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime, James is destined to be a cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.
Percival Everett on Race, Language, and Art
Author Percival Everett talks with CBS News correspondent Martha Teichner about his writing, his artwork, and his penchant for privacy.
Everett has challenged the schism of race in such satirical novels as Erasure (basis of the Oscar-winning film American Fiction). His latest, James, re-tells the story of Huckleberry Finn from the point of view of Huck’s…
Read the full article here
