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Percival L. Everett
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James: A Novel Hardcover – March 19, 2024

by Percival Everett (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 54,978 ratings
Editors' pick Best Books of the Year 2024
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  1. National Book AwardWinner, 2024
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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER• NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER • A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and darkly humorous, told from the enslaved Jim's point of view

NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST • ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE • KIRKUS PRIZE WINNER

In development as a feature film to be produced by Steven Spielberg • A Best Book of the Year: The New York Times Book Review, LA Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The Economist, TIME, and more.

"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 cornerstone of twenty-first century American literature.
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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Doubleday
  4. Publication date
    March 19, 2024
  5. Dimensions
    5.86 x 1.22 x 8.63 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0385550367
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0385550369
  8. See all details
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  1. “Folks be funny lak dat. Dey takes the lies dey want and throws away the truths dat scares ’em.”
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  2. At that moment the power of reading made itself clear and real to me. If I could see the words, then no one could control them or what I got from them. They couldn’t even know if I was merely seeing them or reading them, sounding them out or comprehending them. It was a completely private affair and completely free and, therefore, completely subversive.
    Highlighted by 6,951 Kindle readers
  3. How strange a world, how strange an existence, that one’s equal must argue for one’s equality, that one’s equal must hold a station that allows airing of that argument, that one cannot make that argument for oneself, that premises of said argument must be vetted by those equals who do not agree.
    Highlighted by 5,824 Kindle readers
  4. I chose the word enemy, and still do, as oppressor necessarily supposes a victim.
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From the Publisher

this retelling might be a masterpiece writes the New York Times
Genius says The Atlantic
will help redefine one of the classics of American literature says the Chicago Tribune
enlightening work of literary art says the Boston Globe
Book title and author

Editorial Reviews

Review

A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD AND THE KIRKUS PRIZE FOR FICTION | BARNES & NOBLE'S 2024 BOOK OF THE YEAR

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST, THE NEW YORKER, NPR, THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW, THE ECONOMIST, THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, AND VANITY FAIR, AMONG OTHERS...

“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
 
“[A] careful and thought-provoking auditing of Huckleberry Finn. . . [James is] a kind of commentary or midrash, broadening our understanding of an endangered classic by bringing out the tragedy behind the comic facade. And that is no small thing. I expect that James will be spoken of as a repudiation of Huckleberry Finn, but a book like this can only be written in a spirit of engaged devotion. More than a correction, it’s a rescue mission. And maybe this time it will work.” 
—The Wall Street Journal
 
“Heir to Mark Twain’s satirical vision, Everett turns a boyhood memoir into a neo-fugitive slave narrative thriller. . . Using erasure, Everett has produced a daring emendation. Redacting swaths of Huck Finn, he’s revealed another code: the untranslated story of James’s self-emancipation. . . James is a provocative, enlightening work of literary art.” 
—The Boston Globe
 
“[Everett is a] prolific genius. . . A literary jukebox. . . If anyone is poised to casually (after all, he has bills) write a masterpiece that not only becomes instant canon but also sets a brush fire to the current ones it stands upon, it’s Everett. And that’s exactly what he’s done with James.” 
—Elle

"Huck Finn’ Is a Masterpiece. This Retelling Just Might Be, Too."
—The New York Times

“[A] sly response to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. . . While The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn lampooned American society through the naiveté of its young narrator, James critiques White racism with the sharp insight of a character who’s felt the lash...What’s most striking, ultimately, is the way James both honors and interrogates Huck Finn, along with the nation that reveres it.”
—The Washington Post

"Percival Everett [is] our current Great American Novelist. . . [JAMES] is a masterpiece that will help redefine one of the classics of American literature, while also being a major achievement on its own. . . I almost cannot imagine a future where teachers assign The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn without also assigning James alongside it. . . Everett is one of the most, if not the most interesting writers working today.”
—The Chicago Tribune

“To call James a retelling would be an injustice. Everett sends Mark Twain’s classic through the looking glass. What emerges is no longer a children’s book, but a blood-soaked historical novel stripped of all ornament. . . Genius.”
—The Atlantic

"Once you’ve picked up Everett’s James, a retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, you’ll know that only Everett could take on the task of allowing Mark Twain’s character Jim to show what was missing from the original story.”
—The Los Angeles Times

“Percival Everett continues his blistering pace of unforgettable fiction with James. . . Everett infuses this well-known story with a refreshingly contemporary jolt of agency, intelligence, and compassion, bringing new life to the character of Jim and the American epic.”
—Chicago Review of Books

“Using nuance and vulnerability to emphasize Jim’s humanity, [Everett leaves a] stamp on the literary landscape as he dismantles the stereotypes of the enslaved humans depicted in Twain’s classic. . . Percival Everett has accomplished more than humanizing a marginalized voice. He has, once again, delivered a seminal work of literary reparation.”
—Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"Everett’s James isn’t out to displace Twain’s book. It’s carrying out a bolder, more ingenuous, and, characteristic of its author, more subversive agenda...Everett endows Jim with greater dimension and nuance than his original creator did. Huckleberry Finn provided Jim with courage, dignity, and virtue. James bestows upon him the greater, if more complicated, privilege of full (if not yet unfettered) humanity."
—The New Republic

“Playful and resonant. . . Everett has plenty of derisive fun here, dissecting and subverting damaging stereotypes. . . For a writer who often plays by few rules, Everett has drawn on what he knows best here – that freedom can be won, one word at a time. Add levity and serious intent and you have a novel that's a class act.”
—Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Audacious. . . Everett [gives] Jim—who, we learn, prefers to be called James—his agency, letting his intelligence and compassion shine through. James is a poignant if often distressing reintroduction to a beloved character who deserved better.”
—Time

"Ingenious"
—People

“Percival Everett with virtuosic wit presents a spin on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
—Vanity Fair

"More than audacious. With James, Everett has mounted a high-stakes, revisionist raid not just on Twain’s imagination but on ours as a nation. . . [Everett is] a brilliantly sly novelist."
—Garden & Gun

"We may not be meeting Jim for the first time, but we’re introduced to him in a bold new way."
—Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"In an astounding riposte, the much-lauded Everett (Dr. No, 2022) rewrites [Huck Finn] as a liberation narrative, told from Jim (or rather James’) point of view...An absolutely essential read."
—Booklist (Starred Review)

"The audacious and prolific Everett dives into the very heart of Twain’s epochal odyssey...One of the noblest characters in American literature gets a novel worthy of him."
—Kirkus (Starred Review)

“Ingenious … Jim’s wrenching odyssey concludes with remarkable revelations, violent showdowns, and insightful meditations on literature and philosophy. Everett has outdone himself.”
—Publisher’s Weekly (Starred Review)

"James is funny and horrifying, brilliant and riveting. In telling the story of Jim instead of Huckleberry Finn, Percival Everett delivers a powerful, necessary corrective to both literature and history. I found myself cheering both the writer and his hero. Who should read this book? Every single person in the country.”
—Ann Patchett

"Percival Everett is a giant of American letters, and James is a canon-shatteringly great book. Unforgiving and compassionate, beautiful and brutal, a tragedy and a farce, this brilliant novel rewrites literary history to let us hear the voices it has long suppressed.”
—Hernan Diaz, author of Trust

“This is a brilliant, accessible, and very necessary companion to Huckleberry Finn.”
—Dave Eggers, author of The Eyes and the Impossible

“James is a masterpiece. I read it late this summer, and I have already recommended it to enough people to put it on the bestseller lists, in the classrooms, libraries, book clubs and hands in which it so rightly belongs.”
—Francine Prose

“Percival Everett is a genre.” 
—Kiese Laymon

“Pure brilliance. Funny, wise, gracious; this may be Everett's best book yet.”
—Bonnie Garmus
 
“Percival Everett is an audacious, beguiling American master, whose wild trajectory has reached astonishing highs in the past decade. Now comes James, which enlists and devours not only Mark Twain’s novel but aspects of Melville, Ellison, and even Kafka to makes an irrevocable intervention into the canon. Everett is simply playing this game at a higher level, and it is the most serious game imaginable.”
—Jonathan Lethem

About the Author

PERCIVAL EVERETT is a Distinguished Professor of English at USC. His most recent books include Dr. No (finalist for the NBCC Award for Fiction and winner of the PEN/ Jean Stein Book Award), The Trees (finalist for the Booker Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction), Telephone (finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), So Much Blue, Erasure, and I Am Not Sidney Poitier. He has received the NBCC Ivan Sandrof Life Achievement Award and The Windham Campbell Prize from Yale University. American Fiction, the feature film based on his novel Erasure, was released in 2023 and was awarded the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, the writer Danzy Senna, and their children

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Doubleday; First Edition (March 19, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385550367
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385550369
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.86 x 1.22 x 8.63 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 54,978 ratings

About the author

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Percival L. Everett

Percival L. Everett

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PERCIVAL EVERETT is a Distinguished Professor of English at USC. His most recent books include Dr. No (finalist for the NBCC Award for Fiction and winner of the PEN/ Jean Stein Book Award), The Trees (finalist for the Booker Prize and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction), Telephone (finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), So Much Blue, Erasure, and I Am Not Sidney Poitier. He has received the NBCC Ivan Sandrof Life Achievement Award and The Windham Campbell Prize from Yale University. American Fiction, the feature film based on his novel Erasure, was released in 2023. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, the writer Danzy Senna, and their children.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
54,978 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book compelling and engrossing. They appreciate the new perspective on the classic tale from Jim's perspective. The story is thought-provoking and interesting, with interesting facts about US history. Readers praise the writing quality as well-written and easy to read. They find the humor entertaining and ironic. Many find the story heartbreaking, disturbing, and emotional. The characters are described as wonderful and empathetic.

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ReadabilityStory qualityThought provokingWriting qualityHumorHeartbreaking storyCharacter developmentPacing
669 customers mention "Readability"650 positive19 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They describe it as an entertaining continuation of Mark's story, a great treasure of American literature, and a good read for book clubs. The author does a good job of continuing the story.

"...The major twist is foreshadowed early on, so it doesn’t come out of nowhere, and it changes the complexion of the story...." Read more

"...This book is powerful, thought-provoking, well written and a must-read for anyone who loves classic stories told from a new perspective." Read more

"Pros: This book is a great twist on the classic book of Tom Sawyer. I can’t remember the last time I laughed out reading...." Read more

"This book was a good but very hard read...." Read more

435 customers mention "Story quality"370 positive65 negative

Customers find the story compelling and inspiring. They appreciate the new perspective and retelling of the classic Huckleberry Finn novel from Jim's perspective. The plot is good, with drama and thought-provoking premise.

"...Everett reappropriates that story, turns it upside down and inside out, and leans formidably forward by making this a story and POV of Jim, with..." Read more

"...stays connected to the original book while giving us a completely new way to see the story...." Read more

"...I can’t remember the last time I laughed out reading. Fantastic story with a lot of the classic characters you’ll remember...." Read more

"The perspective, the drama, the story - all told brilliantly. I didn’t know how the story would end, I didn’t have any expectation...." Read more

321 customers mention "Thought provoking"308 positive13 negative

Customers find the book insightful and profound. They describe it as an important account of the American experience, laid bare with all its shortcomings and sins. The book is described as an educational and entertaining read that brings new depth to Mark Train's tale.

"...His quick wit, thoughtful compassion, and deep humanity also become his ammunition in a hostile world...." Read more

"...This book is powerful, thought-provoking, well written and a must-read for anyone who loves classic stories told from a new perspective." Read more

"The perspective, the drama, the story - all told brilliantly. I didn’t know how the story would end, I didn’t have any expectation...." Read more

"...The author did a great job telling our history and I'd suggest that anyone read it if they want to learn more about slavery." Read more

295 customers mention "Writing quality"255 positive40 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book. They find it well-written and enjoyable. The sentences are concise and insightful, highlighting how proper language can distinguish a respectable person. While some readers felt the author took liberties with the story, they appreciated that it outlined the horrors of slavery without sensationalizing them.

"...Intelligence is Jim’s stunning subterfuge. He has a rich interior life, and in dreams, he debates slavery and philosophy with the likes of Voltaire,..." Read more

"...This book is powerful, thought-provoking, well written and a must-read for anyone who loves classic stories told from a new perspective." Read more

"...The story was engaging and very realistic (almost too realistic). I've never read Huckleberry Finn so I had nothing to compare it to...." Read more

"The perspective, the drama, the story - all told brilliantly. I didn’t know how the story would end, I didn’t have any expectation...." Read more

127 customers mention "Humor"118 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it entertaining, laugh-out-loud funny, and thought-provoking. The author captures the humor of Mark Twain and Huck Finn. The ironic touch of humour prevents one from putting down the book just to cry. Readers find the story engaging and fun to read all day long.

"...His quick wit, thoughtful compassion, and deep humanity also become his ammunition in a hostile world...." Read more

"...James is a well-spoken man who can read and write and who has read many of the books in Judge Thatcher’s library...." Read more

"Full of action and surprise, this book describes the horrors of slavery and the exploitations of all who lived through it...." Read more

"...The ironic touch of humour prevents one from putting down the book just to cry and cry...." Read more

105 customers mention "Heartbreaking story"89 positive16 negative

Customers find the story heartbreaking and emotional. They describe it as a powerful, thought-provoking read that brings them to tears at times. The book is described as disturbing, interesting, and thought-provoking.

"...combine laconic protagonists, subversive wit, and tragic events...." Read more

"...It's a fictionalized story, yet truthfully describes the terrors and injustice experienced by a black slave prior to the Civil War...." Read more

"The book broke my heart. I was not born in the USA, so my family never engaged in the awfulness of slavery...." Read more

"Could not put this down. A must read. An unbearable truth. I never read huckleberry Finn but I imagine this is quite the compliment." Read more

102 customers mention "Character development"99 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the rich and human characters in the book. They find the story compelling and empathetic. The plot is surprising, with interesting guest stars like Voltare and an imaginative story of a slave figure from Mark Twain's classic adventure tale.

"...and Telephone (a finalist for the Pulitzer in 2021) combine laconic protagonists, subversive wit, and tragic events...." Read more

"...Fantastic story with a lot of the classic characters you’ll remember. I might take like 20 minutes and read the cliff notes of the base novel...." Read more

"...James was a wonderful and unforgettable character" Read more

"...In both stories, the characters separate for very good reasons. While apart, each must depend on his own wit, their own wiles to survive...." Read more

81 customers mention "Pacing"60 positive21 negative

Customers find the book's pacing good. They say it moves along quickly, with fast-paced adventures and an engaging narrative. The book is described as a quick read that readers cannot put down.

"...I love how it stays connected to the original book while giving us a completely new way to see the story...." Read more

"James: A Novel is a fast paced read of Huckleberry Finn from Jim’s point of view with a totally satisfying ending...." Read more

"This book enters the less than 24 hours to read! I started it last night and finished this afternoon. Must have been good if that happened." Read more

"Eye opening and difficult to read because of the raw and emotional feelings it imparts. Made me feel the pain and struggles the slaves endured." Read more

Imagination is everything with this story.
5 out of 5 stars
Imagination is everything with this story.
James is not exactly a retelling of Huck Fin because if it was, it would have been titled Jim instead of James. You have been warned. The author took liberties and turned this story on its head. I admit, I was was taken aback at first. That being said, I decided to just go with it and see what happens. I’m so glad I did as I was pleasantly surprised. If you can loosen your brain a bit and allow imagination to take over, you just may find a hilarious and ludicrous story told through the eyes, ears and thoughts of James long before the The Civil War.Imagination is everything with this story. I encourage you to keep an open mind and allow the door of implausibility to remain open. The exaggeration of James’s character is what brought this story to life for me…like a breath of fresh air. This contrast of literary characterization is what captured my imagination.An Imaginative ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Note: As I had read Huckleberry Fin many decades ago, I googled a synopsis to refresh my old brain.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • ReeM
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful and Surprising Read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    A brilliant retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but from Jim’s perspective. I love how it stays connected to the original book while giving us a completely new way to see the story. It feels so current and relevant, making you think about history in a fresh way and how much it’s true till today.

    The writing is smart and engaging, and just when you think you know what’s coming, it surprises you. This book is powerful, thought-provoking, well written and a must-read for anyone who loves classic stories told from a new perspective.
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Mekisha Mebane
    5.0 out of 5 stars A hard but good read.....
    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2025
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    This book was a good but very hard read. The storyline was one that keeps you turning pages but it wasn't something that I'd choose to read on my own. I read it with my alumni book club. The story was engaging and very realistic (almost too realistic). I've never read Huckleberry Finn so I had nothing to compare it to. The author did a great job telling our history and I'd suggest that anyone read it if they want to learn more about slavery.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Scotty B
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great, Hilarious Novel With Some Caveats
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2025
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    Pros: This book is a great twist on the classic book of Tom Sawyer. I can’t remember the last time I laughed out reading. Fantastic story with a lot of the classic characters you’ll remember. I might take like 20 minutes and read the cliff notes of the base novel. Not necessary but will help. Thoroughly enjoyed the read.

    Cons: I don’t know if it’s a con, but more of personal preference - the n-word is used ALOT. I understand it’s historically accurate for that time, but it was used probably once every 1-2 pages. It’s a word I have separated myself from, so reading it that many was a bit jarring and uncomfortable at times. Potentially the authors intention…but even then did sit well. Again, just my preference.
    35 people found this helpful
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  • DCosena
    5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 3, 2025
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    The perspective, the drama, the story - all told brilliantly. I didn’t know how the story would end, I didn’t have any expectation. What I know is that the ending was absolutely perfect.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • L-Booknerd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, What A Read!
    Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2025
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    It's been decades since I've read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Reading this POV from James (Jim) brought most of it back to me. This is no adventure, it's survival. I was bouncing between anger and hopefulness the whole time I was reading. Truly, I gave myself a headache after reading certain scenes. This story stays true to the original, but gives you Jim's full story. He wasn't just a slave, he was a smart and canny slave. I admired his feats throughout and even felt his sadness when things went south. Over the years I have begun to not like reading slave narratives. The cruelty was just too much to retain, but I'm slowly coming back to reading these stories because WHY NOT. I highly recommend this gem of a book.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • San Diego
    5.0 out of 5 stars exciting and thought provoking
    Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2025
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    Excellent read and original twist of Huck Finn. Was interesting and full of adventure. James was a wonderful and unforgettable character
    4 people found this helpful
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  • G. A. Taylor
    4.0 out of 5 stars To Be Read
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2025
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    I read James with interest being interested in history and human nature. It's a fictionalized story, yet truthfully describes the terrors and injustice experienced by a black slave prior to the Civil War. A fairly accurate description of any situation where slavery exist no matter the color of ones skin or the time period in history. The reader is drawn into the raw reality of what injustices & the suppression that where imposed throughout history, not only here in the United States but world wide with slavery and the belief that these individuals were property rather than a person's equal, as a human being. It is a story of survival and determination of one man's life as a slave and the cruelty of those believing they were rightfully entitled to own/control/discard another human being. It's a good read!
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Book Mom
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Read
    Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2025
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    Terrific book that deserves all the accolades it's received. Thought-provoking, funny at times, nuanced and kept me wanting to read to the end. You don't have to have read (or remember) Huck Finn to enjoy this book.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Paul M
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent
    Reviewed in Canada on January 4, 2025
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    Entertaining for sure. Now your imagination can take over. The author must have had fun writing this book. Not as well written as Huck Fin/ Tom Sawyer but enjoyable.
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  • antonov
    5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece
    Reviewed in Germany on February 15, 2025
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    The best book I read in 2024, I’ve gifted friends a copy. Percival Everett is one of the best writers around and this book is a masterpiece.
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  • WWoman
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting premise
    Reviewed in France on January 21, 2025
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    There are a couple of premises in the book that were interesting. One in particular at the start and another at the end. Definitely a good read.
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  • Cliente de Kindle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Much more than a brilliant play on Huckleberry Finn
    Reviewed in Spain on January 14, 2025
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    Excellently written, both as exciting as an adventure story and as chilling and disturbing as a slave narrative. Highly recommendable.
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  • Luce
    5.0 out of 5 stars Descrizione volume
    Reviewed in Italy on November 26, 2024
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    Ottimo volume, corrispondente alla descrizione.
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