A Lesson Before Dying was written by Ernest J. The novel takes place in the late 1940s. It is about a man named Jefferson who witnessed a shoot out in a liquor store. He is the only survivor so the town automatically assumes it was his fault. He is sentenced to death without a fail trial. He isn't a very educated man, so his Godmother, Miss Emma, convinces the town schoolteacher, Grant Wiggins, to teach him. Grant and Jefferson form a very strong bond and become good friends. Jefferson proves that heroism is not always expressed through action, sometimes the simple act of resisting the inevitable is enough.
Ernest J. Gaines did a great job in writing this novel. It's the type of book that is hard to put down. Its such an inspiring and thought-provoking novel. The story is so real and is "a strongly felt and - in the best sense- ambitious novel," says Newsday Magazine. One thing that Gaines does well in writing this novel is making it easy to read and understand. It's a very moving story and it evokes the place and time in which he writes.
I really enjoyed reading this novel. I never wanted to put it down, one because its so easy to read, and two because its such a great and interesting story. I highly recommend everyone to read this novel. "This majestic, moving novel is an instant classic, a book that will be read, discussed and taugh beyond the rest of our lives." (Chicago Tribune).
