Percival Everett’s novel James from 2024 powerfully rewrites Mark Twain’s 19th-century Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the runaway slave Jim. Joseph Luzzi, a professor of literature at Bard College, explores the issues and themes that drive both of these groundbreaking works. He considers how Everett’s modern re-imagining of one of the most canonical works in literature addresses major concerns in American life today—especially ones related to race—the legacy of slavery, and the function of the novel in society.
10–11 a.m. The Question of the Great American Novel
Luzzi discusses the “Great American Novel”—the quest to write the one overarching narrative that captures the complexities of American life and identity—and how it relates to these two novels.
11:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. A Literary Journey Along the Mississippi: Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Luzzi explores Twain’s influential novel, with a focus on its representation of 19th-century American society.
12:15–12:45 p.m. Break
12:45–1:45 p.m. Rewriting Twain, Part One: Everett’s James
Luzzi considers how Everett rethinks central issues and concerns of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, with a focus on Black American identity, the role of language in social life, and the history of the United States in the 19th century.
2–3 p.m. Rewriting Twain, Part Two, and Concluding Thoughts
After completing his discussion of James, Luzzi provides insights into how and why readers and writers today continue to address Twain’s legacy.
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