Percival Everett has clinched the National Book Award for fiction with his novel James, a provocative retelling of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, per euronews.com. Told from the perspective of Jim, the escaped slave from Twain’s original, James reexamines themes of racism and violence in 19th-century America.
The win comes after the American author’s Booker Prize disappointment, where Samantha Harvey’s Orbital claimed the top honour. Everett, 67, who previously garnered acclaim as a Pulitzer and Booker Prize finalist for Trees and Dr. No, respectively said during his acceptance speech that James had been “nicely received.”
The National Book Awards, held on Wednesday night, celebrated diversity and storytelling’s power to challenge societal norms. Winners included Jason De León’s Soldiers and Kings: Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling for nonfiction, Shifa Saltagi Safadi’s Kareem Between for young people’s literature, Lena Khalaf Tuffaha’s Something About Living for poetry, and Yáng Shuāng-zǐ’s Taiwan Travelogue, translated by Lin King, in the translation category.
The event, however, was not without controversy. Palestinian American poet Tuffaha and Safadi used their acceptance speeches to criticise the ongoing Gaza war, calling it “genocide” and receiving mixed reactions from the audience. Meanwhile, Black Classic Press publisher W. Paul Coates, honoured with a lifetime achievement award, faced backlash over past reissues, including the contentious essay The Jewish Onslaught.
Despite the debates, the night underscored the literary community’s commitment to amplifying diverse voices. National Book Foundation Executive Director Ruth Dickey defended free expression while condemning bigotry, stating, “Literature thrives on differing opinions and challenging perspectives.”
With this recognition, Everett further cements his legacy as one of America’s most daring storytellers.
•Featured image: Percival Everett/AP
