US EditionNovelist Percival Everett and playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins among Pulitzer winners in the arts
- Pulitzer officials announced on Monday, May 5, 2025, that Percival Everett won the fiction prize for his novel James and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins won drama for Purpose.
- Everett’s rise followed decades of limited public recognition, and Jacobs-Jenkins had previously received two Pulitzer drama nominations before earning this award.
- Percival Everett’s novel *James* offers a bold retelling of *The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn* through the eyes of its enslaved central figure, while *Purpose* by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins delves into the complexities and tensions within a prominent Black family across generations.
- The Pulitzer committee described James as a thoughtful reexamination highlighting the irrationality of racial supremacy and commended Purpose for its effective mix of drama and comedy exploring how various generations interpret heritage.
- James had previously received several prestigious awards and sold over one million copies, establishing it as the standout American literary novel of 2024 and boosting Everett’s rising recognition.
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Associated Press News
Novelist Percival Everett and playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins among Pulitzer winners in the arts
Percival Everett’s novel “James,” his radical re-imagining of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from the perspective of the enslaved title character, has won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
Two Civil War Books Win Pulitzer Prizes in Fiction and History - The Reconstruction Era
On May 5 the announcement came of Pulitzer Prizes. Two books largely dealing with the Civil War, won awards. The winner for Fiction was James by Percival Everett (Doubleday). The book tells the story of James, an enslaved Black man who is based on the character Jim from Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn. Foe the History Award, Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom During the Civil War by Edda L. Fields-Black won. Harrie…
Did the Pulitzer Board just overrule the Jury to give Percival Everett the prize?
Earlier today, the 2025 Pulitzer Prizes were announced and Percival Everett’s James was declared the winner for fiction. This came as no surprise to anybody even vaguely tapped into the literary scene: in addition to winning the National Book Award for Fiction, James won the Kirkus Prize and was a finalist for the Booker Prize, […]
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