James

A Novel

By: Percival Everett

Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman

Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view

"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.

©2024 Percival Everett (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF THE YEAR BY TIME, NPR, THE SEATTLE TIMES, ELLE, THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, AND OPRAH DAILY

“The cult favorite author’s electric new work. . . James completely reimagines one-half of Finn’s famous duo, elevating him from unwitting sidekick to reluctant hero. . . Everett brings that laser-sharp wit to James, creating a radical new American adventure.”—W Magazine

“James offers page-turning excitement but also off-kilter philosophical picaresque. . . Gripping, painful, funny, horrifying, this is multi-level entertainment, a consummate performance to the last."—The Guardian

“Blasted clean of Twain’s characterization, Jim emerges here as a man of great dignity, altruism, and intelligence. . . Clever, soulful, and full of righteous rage, [Jim’s] long-silenced voice resounds through this remarkable novel. Subversive and thrilling, James is destined to become a modern classic.”—Esquire

I will be forever changed by reading this book.

"James" is the story of the slave Jim in Huckleberry Finn as told by Jim. Percival Everett is a gifted storyteller and an excellent writer. Everett describes the life and emotions of a slave with clarity, poignancy and controlled rage as James desperately searches for his family and freedom. It is with wonder that after enduring such terrible treatment that any slave could hold to the hope that something better could be available, that freedom was a possibility. They had to have hope to survive and to attempt to escape bondage. I will be forever changed by this story of what was a gentle, self-educated man forced to hide and kill, never losing hope that he would find his wife and daughter and take them to freedom. This is an important book to be published at this time for it is long past time for Americans to come to grips with the horror of our history of slavery. We cannot regain our national soul until we do. We need to see slavery in all its savagery and acknowledge it so we can end racism for all time. The story of James may help us do this.

One of the best books I’ve ever read

I am not good at writing an eloquent review that will want to make you want to read a book. All I can say is this is everything I want in a book-a compelling story, a great narrator, and it changed me. One of the best books written in the past 50 years, imho.

Delicious Twist on a Familiar Story

I relished hearing the story from the perspective of Jim, the unsung hero of Twain's novel. Stay tuned for a surprise or two toward the end.

A MUST READ

THIS NOVEL IS A MUST READ!! ESPECIALLY IN THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICES OF THE STATES OF FLORIDA AND TEXAS!

Painful yet gratifying.

Outstanding writing. It took me on an emotional ride at times hard to read but ultimately gratifying.

A masterpiece!

Telling and embellishing the mark twain masterpiece of American literature from the point of view of the slave Jim was a brave effort that succeeded beyond anything imaginable. Now I will have to re-read the original.

A Masterpiece

A story, though difficult at in the inhumanity of the times, must be read/listened to by everyone.

A MUST

This is an incredibly moving book. It has everything…love and hope, but sadness, hate and fear. It’s the story of a man stepping out of the shadows of 19th century American literature to claim his place as a great figure in 21st century American literature. It is well written and the narration is pitch perfect. One of the best books I’ve read or listened to EVER, and I’ve read a lot of books. Don’t miss it.

Fabulous story. Beautifully written and told.

Couldn’t stop listening to this. It’s a great adventure story. Great writing. Loved the Narrator.

Stunning but not for the faint of heart

This is a beautifully written retelling of Huckleberry Finn from the enslaved Black man Jim's point of view. The horrors of slavery are on full display, but the story is so compelling that there is no choice but to read on, and try to comprehend how enslaved people lived, learned, and loved under these brutal conditionsThe flipped perspective of the novel is funny, brilliant, and poignant.