NEW YORK — Percival Everett has achieved significant recognition with his novel “James,” a modern reinterpretation of Mark Twain’s classic “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Recently, this work was honored with a substantial cash award of $50,000 as it clinched the Kirkus Prize for fiction.
“James” offers a fresh perspective on Twain’s iconic tale by framing it through the eyes of the escaped enslaved man who forms a bond with Huckleberry Finn. Alongside its success at the Kirkus Prize, Everett’s novel is also competing for prestigious accolades, being named a finalist for both the National Book Award and the Booker Prize.
Over the past three years, Everett’s literary achievements have been widely recognized; he has been a finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. In addition, he received the PEN/Jean Stein Award for his novel “Dr. No.” His contributions to literature have also been acknowledged with lifetime achievement awards, including the Windham-Campbell Literature Prize and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. Furthermore, his 2001 work “Erasure” was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film “American Fiction,” highlighting his influence in the literary and cinematic realms.
In nonfiction, the Kirkus Prize was awarded to Adam Higginbotham for his work “Challenger,” which explores the tragic events surrounding the 1986 space shuttle disaster. Additionally, Kenneth M. Cadow’s coming-of-age tale “Gather,” set in rural Vermont, was honored in the young readers’ literature category. Both Higginbotham and Cadow will also receive the $50,000 prize for their remarkable contributions, similar to Everett’s achievement.
Tom Beer, editor-in-chief at Kirkus, expressed his admiration for the award-winning books, saying, “This year’s prize-winning books — each written with elegance and lucidity — illuminate tragedies both personal and historical, helping us to better understand our world and the spirit of human resilience.”
The Kirkus Prize awards are presented by Kirkus Reviews, a well-respected publication in the literary community. Since their establishment in 2014, the awards have celebrated numerous notable authors, including Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roz Chast, and James McBride, further underscoring the significance of this recognition in the literary landscape.