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 1316th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 407
Since this book was first published in 1993, there is a penalty of 30.4%. The age adjusted score is 283.27.
This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.
- score: 126 -- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature (Weight: 126)
- score: 108 -- The Booklist Century: 100 Books, 100 Years (Weight: 108)
- score: 98 -- The Best Southern Novels of All Time (Weight: 96)
- score: 42 -- National Book Critics Circle Award - Fiction (Weight: 42)
- score: 33 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (Weight: 33)