The Pulitzer citation called James an “accomplished reconsideration” that illustrates “the absurdity of racial supremacy and provide a new take on the search for family and freedom.”

James” is a retelling of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” told from the perspective of Jim, an enslaved man determined to reunite with his family.

Percival Everett’s 2024 novel James continues to earn widespread acclaim. After being named a Booker Prize finalist and winning both the Kirkus Prize and the National Book Award for Fiction, Everett has added the 2025 Pulitzer Prize.