Novelist Percival Everett and playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins among Pulitzer winners in the arts

[qwlauren35]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/novelist-percival-everett-playwright-branden-jacobs-jenkins-pulitzer-w-rcna205184

Percival Everett’s novel “James,” his radical reimagining of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from the perspective of the enslaved title character, has won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.

“Purpose,” Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ drawing-room drama about an accomplished Black family destroying itself from within, won for drama. It also earned six Tony Award nominations last week.

Everett’s Pulitzer confirmed the million-selling “James” as the most celebrated and popular U.S. literary novel of 2024, and accelerated the 68-year-old author’s remarkable rise after decades of being little known to the general public. Since 2021, he has won the PEN/Jean Stein Award for “Dr. No,” was a Pulitzer finalist for “Telephone” and on the Booker shortlist for “The Trees.”

“Purpose” was praised in its citation as “a skillful blend of drama and comedy that probes how different generations define heritage.” Jacobs-Jenkins had been twice nominated for a drama Pulitzer, for “Everybody” in 2018 and “Gloria” in 2016.

[yliza]

1. New books for my iBooks wishlist! n/t

[70sEraVet]

2. Glad that Percival Everett got such an award for 'James'!

It's a clever, refreshing work. Now I have a few more novels added to my 'must read' list.