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James Dunn: A Fictional Character? by A. James Rudin in James Dunn: Champion for Religious Liberty compiled by Brent Walker Of course James M. Dunn does not really exist. The man we know and admire is, in fact, a brilliantly created invention of two famous novelists: Larry McMurtry and Mark Twain. James is a McMurtry "good ole boy" character who possesses an unmistakable Texas twang that successfully accomplishes two goals: it reminds everyone of his native Texas origins, and it disarms folks, especially religious and political leaders, who are not prepared for James astute mind and probing intellect. The Texas accent is a device that a gifted novelist like McMurtry would give to one of his central characters. McMurtrys people always have what literary critics call "texture" and "depth." These terms mean that behind James "Aw shucks! Im just a good ole boy from Fort Worth" façade resides a man with a steel-trap mind and a spiritual core who understands precisely what is going on in American religious and political circles. And like a McMurtry character, James is fully engaged in life with all its complexities and nuances. Read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and you will find that Mark Twain, albeit a writer whose values were shaped during the last century, clearly had James Dunn in mind when he created those two immortal figures of American literature. Hucks friendship with Jim, the African American, and Toms relationship with Injun Joe are examples of people crossing the ugly barriers of bigotry and prejudice. Indeed, combating racism in all its forms has been a hallmark of James Dunns public career. Mark Twain would have liked James because both of them share the gift for great storytelling and have insights into the human condition. |
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