Novelist Percival Everett and playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins among Pulitzer winners in the arts
Percival Everett’s groundbreaking novel, James, has captured the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for fiction. This novel is a bold reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told from the perspective of the enslaved title character. The Pulitzer win has solidified James as the most celebrated literary work in the United States for 2024, propelling Everett, a 68-year-old author, into the spotlight after years of being relatively unknown to the general public.
This is not Everett’s first literary accolade. Since 2021, he has received recognition for his works, including winning the PEN/Jean Stein Award for Dr. No, being a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize with Telephone, and making it to the Booker shortlist with The Trees. Before receiving the Pulitzer for James, he had already claimed the National Book Award, the Kirkus Prize, and the Carnegie Medal for fiction. Additionally, his satirical masterpiece, Erasure, released in 2001, was adapted into the critically acclaimed film American Fiction, which was nominated for an Oscar in 2023.
The Pulitzer committee commended James for its “accomplished reconsideration” of racial supremacy and its fresh perspective on themes of family and freedom. On the other hand, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s drama, Purpose, won the Pulitzer for drama. This play delves into the intricate dynamics of a successful Black family unraveling from within, earning Jacobs-Jenkins six Tony Award nominations. The Pulitzer citation praised Purpose as a skillful blend of drama and comedy that explores how different generations interpret heritage.
In addition to the fiction and drama categories, the Pulitzer Prizes also recognized outstanding works in other genres. Jason Roberts received the biography award for Every Living Thing: The Great and Deadly Race to Know All Life, while Benjamin Nathans’s To the Success of Our Hopeless Cause: The Many Lives of the Soviet Dissident Movement was honored in the general nonfiction category.
Two history books that shed light on race in U.S. history and culture were also celebrated: Edda L. Fields-Black’s Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom During the Civil War, and Kathleen DuVal’s Native Nations: A Millennium in North America.
Marie Howe’s New and Selected Poems clinched the Pulitzer for poetry, while composer-percussionist Susie Ibarra’s Sky Islands, an ensemble piece inspired by the rainforest habitats of Luzon, Philippines, was awarded the Pulitzer for music.
The 2024 Pulitzer Prize winners represent a diverse range of voices and genres, showcasing the depth and breadth of talent in the literary and performing arts. These exceptional works continue to push boundaries and challenge perspectives, enriching the cultural landscape for audiences worldwide.
