Thanks for writing this. I loved James, and just tonight finished reading-reading Huck Finn. Seriously thinking about re-reading James now. :) I was struck by how the adventures in James didn’t follow Huck Finn as closely as I thought they might, just from a sequential standpoint. Obviously the adventures of Huck Finn were boy’s adventures and of James were adult (real) “adventures,” and if he had stuck more closely to Huck Finn, there would not have been the opportunity to explore the elements James did. I agree with your last line.
Great column, I learned a lot from it—and I imagine it took some courage to write. Thanks, Laura, your posts are always fascinating!
There is also "My Jim" by Nancy Rawles, that is written from the perspective of Jim's wife.
I loved the book. And The first time this East Texas Baptist boy read “All right then, I’ll go to hell,” something in me changed.
Thanks for this insight and comparison with Huck Finn. I recently read (and loved) James but haven't read Huck Finn in years.
Thanks for writing this. I loved James, and just tonight finished reading-reading Huck Finn. Seriously thinking about re-reading James now. :) I was struck by how the adventures in James didn’t follow Huck Finn as closely as I thought they might, just from a sequential standpoint. Obviously the adventures of Huck Finn were boy’s adventures and of James were adult (real) “adventures,” and if he had stuck more closely to Huck Finn, there would not have been the opportunity to explore the elements James did. I agree with your last line.