James: A New Novel by Percival Everett (Oct. 23)

Percival Everett’s 2024 reimagining of Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” (1884) places the enslaved runaway Jim’s perspective at its center. Jim—who identifies as James—recounts Twain’s mythic journey down the river as a series of harrowing threats to his life. James battles humiliating prejudice and vicious mistreatment with compassion and sage strategy. He hides his literacy and intellectual sophistication behind a “slave filter,” to appear unthreatening. His “lacerating observations” on the cruel slave system are ferociously funny and brimming with “righteous rage.”

This seminar explores this morally grounded new novel as we look at Everett’s daring revisitation of this literary classic in a highly original, provocative and even shocking retelling. As reviewed by The New York Times: "Huck Finn’ Is a Masterpiece. This Retelling Just Might Be, Too.”

Mary Murphy, Ph.D., received her doctorate in English and American Literature from New York University. Her expertise is in the 19^th-century American novel. Newport artists and writers are an area of particular interest. Mary taught English and literature at Fairfield University for many years before retiring to Newport.