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James
- Narrated by: Dominic Hoffman
- Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
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Summary
Selected as one of the top ten reads of 2024 by The Times and Sunday Times
'Percival Everett is a giant of American letters, and James is a canon-shatteringly great book' – Hernan Diaz, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Trust
'Who should read this book? Every single person in the country' – Ann Patchett, bestselling author of Tom Lake
James is an enthralling and ferociously funny novel that leaves an indelible mark, inspiring us to see Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in a wholly new and transformative light. Booker Prize-shortlisted author of The Trees, Percival Everett is one of the most decorated writers of our lifetime.
The Mississippi River, 1861. When the enslaved Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a new owner in New Orleans and separated from his wife and daughter forever, he decides to hide on nearby Jackson’s Island until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck Finn has faked his own death to escape his violent father who recently returned to town. Thus begins a dangerous and transcendent journey by raft along the Mississippi River, towards the elusive promise of the free states and beyond. As James and Huck begin to navigate the treacherous waters, each bend in the river holds the promise of both salvation and demise.
With rumours of a brewing war, James must face the burden he carries: the family he is desperate to protect and the constant lie he must live. And together, the unlikely pair must face the most dangerous odyssey of them all . . .
From the shadows of Huck Finn’s mischievous spirit, Jim emerges to reclaim his voice, defying the conventions that have consigned him to the margins.
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- Ciara Dunphy
- 25-04-24
Amazing!
The narration for this was simply superb. A harrowing yet riveting tale of slavery in the lead up to the Civil War told as a reimagining of Huckleberry Finn. Highly recommended.
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- Old Git
- 27-04-24
Brilliantly book, superb narration
I heard an excerpt on a review programme on the radio and decided to subscribe to hear it read well. The book is excellent and the narration outstanding. I wonder if I can find another book to match this one. Maybe not but I’ll try.
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- Amazon Customer
- 26-04-24
Fantastic, slow burner but stay with it.
The first half of this book is trash, but the second half is amazing! Well worth the pain of the first half. I read 100 books a year and this is one of the best I’ve read!
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- M. Y. Mim
- 20-04-24
Brutal and brilliant
The writing is marvelous. Code-switching amazing, enlightening (to this white woman in England). Characters beautifully drawn, complex and believable. The setting is so vividly described that I felt the humidity, swatted at mosquitoes that aren’t here, heard the roar of the river and churn of the riverboats. The story itself is compelling, with nary a false step or moment of dullness. I’m so glad I read it. You will be, too.
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