Percival Everett

Percival L. Everett II (born December 22, 1956) is an acclaimed American writer, professor, and one of contemporary literature’s most daring, inventive voices. Born at a U.S. Army post in Georgia and raised in South Carolina, Everett displayed early intellectual curiosity. He earned a BA in philosophy at the University of Miami, where he also explored biochemistry and logic, and later received an MA in fiction from Brown University.

Everett has written more than 30 books, including novels, short-story collections, poetry, and children’s literature. His work often crosses genres—philosophical fiction, satire, mystery, and reimaginings—and frequently explores themes of race, identity, perception, storytelling, and the power of language.

Among his best-known works is Erasure (2001), a biting satire of the publishing industry and racial expectations. The novel reached new audiences when it was adapted into the Oscar-nominated film American Fiction. Other notable books include I Am Not Sidney Poitier, The Trees, Dr. No, and Telephone, which he released in three different versions with alternate endings. His most recent novel, James (2024), a reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, further cementing his place in American literary history.

In addition to his writing, Everett is Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Southern California, where he teaches and mentors emerging writers. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, novelist Danzy Senna, and their children.

Everett is celebrated for his refusal to be confined by labels, his playful yet incisive style, and his fearless exploration of serious social and cultural issues. With his wide-ranging body of work, he has become one of the most original and thought-provoking voices in modern literature.