James

In a daring and profound reimagining of Mark Twain's classic, Percival Everett's "James" plunges into the tumultuous waters of 1861 Mississippi through the eyes of the enslaved Jim. When Jim overhears that he is to be sold away from his beloved wife and daughter, he seizes the desperate opportunity to flee, landing on Jackson's Island. Coincidentally, the young Huck Finn has also faked his death to escape his brutal father, and their paths converge. What unfolds is a perilous and transcendent odyssey down the Mississippi River, as Jim and Huck navigate the dangers of the antebellum South in pursuit of the elusive promise of freedom. Everett masterfully blends ferocious humor and incisive social commentary with heart-wrenching drama, offering a radically new perspective on a foundational American narrative and challenging readers to confront the complex truths of identity, humanity, and the cost of liberty.