Madison Reporter

Author Percival Everett's novel "James" has been selected as the University of Wisconsin–Madison's 2025-26 Go Big Read book. The novel reimagines Mark Twain's 1884 classic, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," from the viewpoint of Jim, Huck's companion. The tale unfolds on the Mississippi River, shortly after Jim's escape from slavery.

The book, which won the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction, parallels Twain’s story. Jim and Huck experience various adventures, facing characters like the Duke and the Dauphin, while relying on their wits and luck to survive. Everett's characters, speaking in the Missouri dialect of the 1850s, offer readers an introspective look at the horrors of slavery through Jim's articulate and modern narration.

UW–Madison Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin commented, “Everett’s extraordinary retelling of this American literary classic prompts us to reflect on how stories are told and whose voices are heard. It turns a familiar American story upside down and shows us, with the power of dialogue and perspective, an entirely different way of viewing the same world.”

"James" received critical acclaim upon its 2024 release, earning a place on the New York Times’ Best Sellers List for Hardcover Fiction and being shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Everett, who holds a teaching position at the University of Southern California, plans to visit UW–Madison in fall 2025 for a keynote event linked to the Go Big Read initiative.

Supported by the Office of the Chancellor, Go Big Read aims to create an academically centered shared reading experience for the UW–Madison community. The program will distribute copies of "James" to all first-year students during the Chancellor’s Convocation for New Students, while participating instructors and event planners can request additional copies.