Percival Everett is a celebrated American author, poet, and academic known for his diverse body of work that spans novels, short stories, and poetry. With over thirty books to his name, Everett has made a lasting impact on contemporary literature through his exploration of race, identity, and the human condition, often with an infusion of wit and satire. His novels include Erasure (2001), a searing critique of racial stereotypes in publishing, I Am Not Sidney Poitier (2009), a humorous and complex take on identity, and The Trees (2021), which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and combines mystery with social critique. Everett’s style defies easy categorization, and he is praised for his ability to navigate genre-bending themes with both intellectual rigor and humor.

In addition to his writing, Everett is a professor of English at the University of Southern California, where he shares his craft with emerging writers and scholars. He has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the PEN Center USA Award for Fiction and the Dos Passos Prize for Literature. Everett’s work often challenges readers to question their assumptions about race, power, and truth, establishing him as one of the most influential voices in contemporary American literature.