Open Book with Percival Everett

The 2025 edition of The Open Book will conclude with a special appearance by Percival Everett, National Book Award-winning novelist and Distinguished Professor at the University of Southern California.

Everett will speak about James. An action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the novel was an instant New York Times bestseller, was longlisted for the Booker Prize, and was named the best book of the year in myriad publications. As the Chicago Tribune declared, James is “A masterpiece that will help redefine one of the classics of American literature, while also being a major achievement on its own.”

This event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is suggested. We anticipate a high volume of attendees. Walk-ins are also welcome to attend.

Check-in will open at 5:30 p.m. We ask all guests to be seated no later than 5:45 p.m. The program will begin promptly at 6 p.m.

This event is generously sponsored by The College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of English, the Humanities Collaborative and The University South Caroliniana Society.

About Percival Everett
Percival Everett grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from A.C. Flora High School. He has published twenty books, including both fiction and poetry. Among his many honors are the Kirkus Prize, an NEA fellowship, and a Guggenheim fellowship, In 2021, he received the Ivan Sandrof Life Achievement Award from the National Book Critics Circle, and he was recently award the National Book Award for fiction.

Getting There
The Johnson Performance Hall is located on Level 1 of the Darla Moore School of Business. Guests are highly encouraged to enter through the stairs at the corner of Park Street and at the corner of the Coliseum, to the main floor/Level 1. For accessible users, please take the elevator located at the bottom of the stairs at the corner of Park Street and the Coliseum to level 1, and follow signs to the entrance of the Johnson Performance Hall.

Parking
Parking convenient to Johnson Performance Hall is available in the Innovista city parking garage located at 821 Park Street(parking fees apply). Several city parking garages are located in the vicinity. Garages/parking spaces are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Host or Publisher USC, College of Arts and Sciences