1. Ernest James Gaines A Lesson Before Dying

2. Author’s Background Ernest James Gaines was born on January 15, 1933 on the River Lake Plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, which is the setting for most of his fiction. Ernest James Gaines was born on January 15, 1933 on the River Lake Plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, which is the setting for most of his fiction.

3. He was the fifth generation in his family to be born there. He was the fifth generation in his family to be born there. Gaines is the oldest of 12 children. Gaines is the oldest of 12 children. At the age of 9, he was picking cotton in the fields. At the age of 9, he was picking cotton in the fields.

4. He was only allowed to attend school 5 months per year. He was only allowed to attend school 5 months per year. When he was 15, Gaines moved to California to join his mother and step-father. When he was 15, Gaines moved to California to join his mother and step-father.

5. He continued his education there since there was not a high school he could attend in Louisiana. He continued his education there since there was not a high school he could attend in Louisiana. He also left because it was against the law in Louisiana in the 1940s for African Americans to enter public libraries. He also left because it was against the law in Louisiana in the 1940s for African Americans to enter public libraries.

6. In California, Gaines visited a public library for the first time at age 16 where his love of great literature and authors flourished. In California, Gaines visited a public library for the first time at age 16 where his love of great literature and authors flourished.

7. He attended San Francisco State University and later won a writing fellowship to Stanford University. He attended San Francisco State University and later won a writing fellowship to Stanford University.

8. During this time, he also read novels dealing with life in the American South which he found untrue and unreal. During this time, he also read novels dealing with life in the American South which he found untrue and unreal.

9. In 1957, Gaines committed himself to the idea of becoming a professional writer in order to truly write about what he knows and feels in regards to the South. In 1957, Gaines committed himself to the idea of becoming a professional writer in order to truly write about what he knows and feels in regards to the South.

10. Gaines published his first story in 1956. Gaines published his first story in 1956. Since then he has written 8 books of fiction, including A Lesson Before Dying. Since then he has written 8 books of fiction, including A Lesson Before Dying.

11. A Lesson Before Dying won, in 1994, the Best Fiction Award and was the October 1997 choice of Oprah’s Book Club. It was also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. A Lesson Before Dying won, in 1994, the Best Fiction Award and was the October 1997 choice of Oprah’s Book Club. It was also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

12. Gaines’s novels are set in the plantations of the deep South and tackle issues of manhood for men, the breakdown in personal relationships, and illustrates the 30 years before the civil rights era. Gaines’s novels are set in the plantations of the deep South and tackle issues of manhood for men, the breakdown in personal relationships, and illustrates the 30 years before the civil rights era.

13. His work also explores universal themes such as the conflict between tradition and change, relationships between father and son, and the importance of maintaining dignity. His work also explores universal themes such as the conflict between tradition and change, relationships between father and son, and the importance of maintaining dignity.

14. A Lesson Before Dying The novel is set in a rural Cajun community in 1940s Louisiana. The novel is set in a rural Cajun community in 1940s Louisiana. A white shopkeeper has died during a robbery attempt. A white shopkeeper has died during a robbery attempt.

15. Jefferson, a young black man, is in jail awaiting execution for the murder he did not commit. Jefferson, a young black man, is in jail awaiting execution for the murder he did not commit.

16. Although this is a fictional novel, this story addresses issues that Gaines fought with on a daily basis. Although this is a fictional novel, this story addresses issues that Gaines fought with on a daily basis.

17. Being a black man and growing up in the brutal South was a life of hardship that Gaines felt compelled to write about. Being a black man and growing up in the brutal South was a life of hardship that Gaines felt compelled to write about.

18. A Lesson Before Dying is a story for all ages and can be associated with the problems of inequality that we still face in the 21 st century. A Lesson Before Dying is a story for all ages and can be associated with the problems of inequality that we still face in the 21 st century.

19. Now, Gaines divides his time between San Francisco and Lafayette, Louisiana, where he is a writer in residence at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Now, Gaines divides his time between San Francisco and Lafayette, Louisiana, where he is a writer in residence at the University of Southwestern Louisiana.