About the book
NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER • A deep and compassionate novel about a young man who returns to 1940s Cajun country to visit a Black youth on death row for a crime he didn't commit. Together they come to understand the heroism of resisting.
\"An instant classic.\" —Chicago Tribune
A “majestic, moving novel...an instant classic, a book that will be read, discussed and taught beyond the rest of our lives\" (Chicago Tribune), from the critically acclaimed author of A Gathering of Old Men and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.
\"A Lesson Before Dying reconfirms Ernest J. Gaines's position as an important American writer.\" —Boston Globe
\"Enormously moving.... Gaines unerringly evokes the place and time about which he writes.\" —Los Angeles Times
“A quietly moving novel [that] takes us back to a place we've been before to impart a lesson for living.” —San Francisco Chronicle
Editions of A Lesson Before Dying
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780517269190
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780679414773
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780679741664
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780375702709
- AltFormat
- ISBN 9780679455615
- EBook
- ISBN 9781400077700
- Audiobook
- ISBN 9780375402586
- Audiobook
- ISBN 9780736626880
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9780739323670
- AudioDisc
- ISBN 9781415929438
Read an Excerpt
NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER • A deep and compassionate novel about a young man who returns to 1940s Cajun country to visit a Black youth on death row for a crime he didn't commit. Together they come to understand the heroism of resisting.
\"An instant classic.\" —Chicago Tribune
A “majestic, moving novel...an instant classic, a book that will be read, discussed and taught beyond the rest of our lives\" (Chicago Tribune), from the critically acclaimed author of A Gathering of Old Men and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.
\"A Lesson Before Dying reconfirms Ernest J. Gaines's position as an important American writer.\" —Boston Globe
\"Enormously moving.... Gaines unerringly evokes the place and time about which he writes.\" —Los Angeles Times
“A quietly moving novel [that] takes us back to a place we've been before to impart a lesson for living.” —San Francisco Chronicle
Frequently Asked Questions
What is A Lesson Before Dying about?
NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER • A deep and compassionate novel about a young man who returns to 1940s Cajun country to visit a Black youth on death row for a crime he didn't commit. Together they come to understand the heroism of resisting.
\"An instant classic.\" —Chicago Tribune
A “majestic, moving novel...an instant classic, a book that will be read, discussed and taught beyond the rest of our lives\" (Chicago Tribune), from the critically acclaimed author of A Gathering of Old Men and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman.
\"A Lesson Before Dying reconfirms Ernest J. Gaines's position as an important American writer.\" —Boston Globe
\"Enormously moving.... Gaines unerringly evokes the place and time about which he writes.\" —Los Angeles Times
“A quietly moving novel [that] takes us back to a place we've been before to impart a lesson for living.” —San Francisco Chronicle
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in A Lesson Before Dying?
Fiction > Historical fiction
Where can I read a sample of A Lesson Before Dying?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780517269190
Is A Lesson Before Dying part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Vintage Contemporaries
Who is/are the Author/s of the book A Lesson Before Dying?
Ernest J. Gaines
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
A Lesson Before Dying is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780517269190) and hardcover(ISBN 9780679414773) and paperback(ISBN 9780679741664) and paperback(ISBN 9780375702709) and altformat(ISBN 9780679455615) and ebook(ISBN 9781400077700) and audiobook(ISBN 9780375402586) and audiobook(ISBN 9780736626880) and audiodisc(ISBN 9780739323670) and audiodisc(ISBN 9781415929438)
Where can I buy A Lesson Before Dying online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy A Lesson Before Dying from below
Where can I buy A Lesson Before Dying?