A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines
Set in the pre-Civil Rights South, the novel explores the story of a young black man wrongfully accused and sentenced to death for a crime he didn't commit. A local schoolteacher, at the request of the man's godmother, attempts to help the condemned man gain a sense of dignity and self-worth in the final days of his life. The story grapples with issues of racial inequality, justice, humanity, and moral obligation.
The 2491st greatest book of all time
Purchase from
Bookshop.org or
Amazon
- Published
- 1993
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 256
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(4.0)
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 7 lists:
- 24th on The Best Southern Novels of All Time (Oxford American)
- 460th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (1,000 Books to Read Before You Die(Book))
- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature (The Center for Fiction)
- Cart's Top 200 Adult Books for Young Adults (Book)
- National Book Critics Circle Award - Fiction (National Book Critics Circle)
- The Booklist Century: 100 Books, 100 Years (BookList)