A Lesson Before Dying

A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. Gaines

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I felt that the main character was not Jefferson, the wrongfully condemned man and the lesson he learned before his execution, but was Grant, the narrator and his anger, nay rage, and cowardice regarding the treatment of his people (Blacks), in 1940's. Both men learn a valuable lesson: how to become a man, Jefferson by dying for his people, and Grant by standing up for his beliefs. The book was slow going & somewhat repetitive until the last 100 pages when we read Jefferson's thoughts and see his transformation. I'd like to have read more about Jefferson. It almosts get there, but not quite.







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