Colson Whitehead
Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author of The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys
Percival Everett
Author of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning novel James
Photo credit: Charlotte Lesnick
Percival Everett has established himself as one of the most inventive and incisive writers in contemporary American literature. Hailed as a "literary icon" (Oprah Daily), he has written more than thirty books—including novels, poetry, and short story collections—which have won numerous prizes and international accolades. A thought-provoking speaker, Everett lectures on the power of literature to change the way we see the world and the unique influences that inspire us to create art.
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About Percival Everett
Percival Everett is one of the most innovative, provocative, and prolific writers of our time. A winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award for Fiction, he has produced a captivating and immensely diverse collection of genre-bending literary works that challenge and inspire readers to contemplate and reconsider the societal and cultural forces that shape our worldviews.
In his wide-ranging literary works, Everett examines a plethora of questions at the core of what it means to be human. From “western” and epistolary novels and wild capers to retellings of Greek mythology, short stories, and poetry, Everett boldly tackles different styles and formats, turning each into his own in the process. With his sharp observations and biting wit, he explores everything from race, politics, gender, and power to family, purpose, the battle between love and intellect, and what it truly means to be alive.
In his engaging talks, he shares fascinating anecdotes about how he created his diverse bibliography and his unique approach to the creative process.
Everett’s newest novel, James, is a brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—both harrowing and ferociously funny—told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view. An instant New York Times bestseller hailed as “genius” by The Atlantic, James won the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction and 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. A film adaptation, produced by Steven Spielberg, is currently in development. His other recent books include Dr. No (winner of the 2023 PEN/Jean Stein Book Award and finalist for the NBCC Award for Fiction), The Trees (finalist for the Booker Prize and the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award), Telephone (finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), So Much Blue, Erasure, and I Am Not Sidney Poitier. He has also written acclaimed short story and poetry collections.
Everett received the NBCC Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award, the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, and the PEN Center USA Award for Fiction—among many other literary awards—and was also the recipient of a 2023 Windham Campbell Prize for Fiction. He is a Distinguished Professor of English at University of Southern California and lives in Los Angeles.
Contact us about booking Percival Everett for your next event.
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Speaking Topics
The Art of Contemporary Fiction
From revisionist westerns to crime novels and retellings of Greek mythology, Percival Everett is a master at taking well-known literary styles or tropes and flipping them on their heads to help readers view the world through creative new lenses. In this engaging lecture, audiences discover the historical events, societal issues, and literary influences that have inspired the range of subjects he tackles in his works and how and why he takes a unique approach to each.
A Conversation with Percival Everett
As the author of more than thirty novels as well as poetry and short story collections, Everett reflects on the personal experiences, interests, and passions that play into the art he creates as well as the craft and research involved in his writing process, and then takes questions from the audience.
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Video
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Praise for Percival Everett
He was fabulous and received a standing ovation.
— University of South CarolinaPercival Everett was charming and insightful.
— Foundation for Baltimore County Public LibraryAn unforgettable evening. Professor Everett could not have been funnier, warmer, or kinder to our colleagues, students, and neighbors. The word everyone is using is electric: People were alive with the energy of sharing an experience that captured the culture of the current moment.
— Church Farm SchoolI loved him and the audience loved him.
— Bexley Public LibraryHe was warm, open, funny, down-to-earth. His insights into his own and even others’ writing were fascinating.
— Greensboro Bound Books FestivalWe thought Percival was incredible. He was very gracious and generous with all of our asks (signing books, meeting with students, talking with VIPs, conversing with our faculty interviewer at the main event). He was thoughtful, engaging, and moving in his responses at the main event, and he left everyone wanting more (in a good way!). The audience did not want to see him leave the stage!
— The Humanities Institute at UC Santa CruzPercival was extraordinary: funny, sharp, generous, just a delightful presence.
— Purchase College, SUNYVery happy and impressed with Mr. Everett. We received nothing but praise from the audience at the event and through emails after the event.
— Contra Costa County LibraryIn a word, excellent. Percival Everett was very personable and simply a pleasure to work with. The audience loved him! There was an extremely high demand for signatures, he was patient and accommodated everyone in line gracefully. He gave a great presentation and a powerful reading. Percival Everett was thought-provoking, engaging, appropriately comical, and truly a joy to have.
— Marygrove ConservancyPercival Everett is such a kind, gentle, humble author. He shared profound insights onstage and the audience absolutely loved him.
— Arts & Letters Live at the Dallas Museum of ArtHe was great! So eloquent in his responses. He was very patient and generous and went through the entire book signing line.
— Amherst CollegeThe audience found him thought-provoking!
— Sharon McMahon EducationWe had the most wonderful time with Percival last night! It was really a spectacular evening, the kind that makes you want to keep doing literary events. The audience was so engaged in his words it made the hall feel alive.
— Seattle Arts & LecturesHe was thoughtful, funny, and personable. Our attendees really enjoyed hearing his thoughts on the importance of books, the process of writing, and lessons learned.
— Tanner Humanities Center at the University of Utah -
Books by Percival Everett
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Media About Percival Everett
Request Fees
and Availability
- 212 572-2013
- Percival Everett travels from Los Angeles, CA
Featured Title
James
Pulitzer Prize winner, National Book Award winner, #1 New York Times bestseller
"The times are finally catching up to the satirical genius of this cult literary icon . . . Everett is a true American genius, a master artist.” ―Oprah Daily
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