Percival Everett’s book is a retelling of Mark Twain’s classic 1884 novel “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” which tells the story of a runaway orphan and an enslaved man’s raft journey down the Mississippi River as they seek freedom unavailable to them in the so-called civilized world.
As “Huckleberry Finn” is told from the perspective of its title character, “James” is told from the perspective of the enslaved Jim.
“We have the opportunity to celebrate two great authors and one great story this year,” Susan Jennings Lantz, director of the Campus Read, said. “Many students are already familiar with Twain’s book from high school. We can now further the discussion on a classic piece of American literature through a different lens.”
Lantz notes the book is “engaging, relatively short and funny.” It’s also not necessary to read Twain’s novel to enjoy Everett’s.
The Campus Read is selected annually by committees made up of faculty, staff, students and the WVU Provost. Students and members of the University community read the book each fall for class projects and personal intellectual enrichment.
Throughout the fall semester, a series of programs and events will be planned to celebrate the chosen book. Past events have included lectures, panels, cultural trips, plays, symphony performances and author events.
Any faculty or staff hoping to use the Campus Read in their classes or activities next year should contact Lantz at Susan.Lantz@mail.wvu.edu.
Everett won the National Book Award for his novel.