A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest J. GainesReviewErnest J. Gaines was born in 1933 on a Louisiana plantation, in the midst of the Great Depression. From the age of 9, he started working in the fields. He spent his childhood digging potatoes, and for a day the work was rewarded with 50 cents. He was raised during this time by his aunt, Augusteen Jefferson, who showed Gaines a determination most of us could only dream of, caring for her family without legs to support them. At age 15, after moving to Vallejo, California, with his parents, Gaines discovered the joys of the public library. The library greatly influenced his decision to become an author. If A Lesson Before Dying was written in an attempt to show the extent of the racial tensions that reigned at the time, Gaines also succeeded in showing how one can stay close to one's roots. I think the book was also written as a tribute to her aunt, to show how one person's courage can affect everyone around them. The book also shows, in the internal conflicts of the protagonist (Grant), that one must remain true to one's heritage. This shows that knowledge is important, but knowledge is not just a GED. How can you move forward in life without knowing your family's past mistakes? To quote George Santayana, “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” » and show the same backbone when considering what your future may hold. For example, Jefferson must relive the simple mistake of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Although wrongly accused, Jefferson was also able to face his execution like a man, showing incredible strength towards his postexistence. Grant, for his part, had always thought about his future. His future with Vivian, his future in a new place. What Grant didn't see was that he knew nothing about his past or his legacy, and before he could move forward, he had to know what he left behind. Grant was able to show it to me when he said, "And that's all we are, Jefferson, all of us on this earth, a piece of driftwood, until we-