Percival Everett’s novel “James,” a retelling of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from the perspective of Huck’s enslaved companion, won the National Book Award for fiction. The book explores Jim’s private experiences, thoughts on racism, and behavior when white people are not around. Everett spoke about the power of books to bring people together, especially during challenging times like the recent presidential election. The idea for “James” came to Everett while playing tennis, wondering if anyone had written Huck Finn from Jim’s point of view.
In the retelling, Jim is portrayed as a literate and thoughtful man who understands how racism impacts his life and behavior. Critics have praised the book as a “slyly funny masterpiece.” Everett, known for exploring race in America, has won several awards for his literary work. The National Book Award is the latest accolade for the 67-year-old author.
The National Book Foundation also awarded Jason De León’s “Soldiers and Kings” in the nonfiction category, and gave lifetime achievement awards to Barbara Kingsolver and W. Paul Coates, founder of Black Classic Press. There has been criticism of honoring Coates due to his press reprinting an essay that some consider antisemitic. However, the foundation has defended its decision, stating that Coates is being recognized for his overall body of work and values free expression while condemning anti-Semitism and bigotry.
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