A Lesson Before Dying Audiobook By Ernest J. Gaines cover art

A Lesson Before Dying

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A Lesson Before Dying

By: Ernest J. Gaines
Narrated by: Lionel Mark Smith, Roger Guenveur Smith
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Jefferson is an innocent and unwitting party to a deadly liquor store shoot-out in the 1940s. As the only survivor, he is tried and convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Grant Wiggins, a university-trained teacher at the plantation school, is persuaded to visit Jefferson in his cell. Wiggins is torn between staying in his native Cajun community or moving on. The 2 men gradually form a bond as they jointly discover the simple heroism of resisting - and denying - the expected.Check out more selections from Oprah's Book Club.©1995 Ernest J. Gaines, All Rights Reserved, Abridgment Approved by the Author (P)16 9; 1995 Time Warner AudioBooks and Juneteenth Audio Books, Time Warner AudioBooks Is a Joint Venture of The Atlantic Group and Time Warner Trade Publishing Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction

Critic reviews

  • An Oprah Book Club selection.
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Skillfully written, deeply emotional, and well worth my time. Very eye opening and exquistely eye-opening. This story unlike anything I had read or heard, but now in retrospect, I am very appreciative of the opportunity to have come across this marvellously written piece of work.

An emotionally gripping story...

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I really enjoyed this book, but I would have preferred the unabridged version. I felt like I was missing out on some important details. I listened to this version and filled in the gaps with the actual text. Overall, it's a wonderful story to reflect on the ideas of justice and one's obligation to his or her family/community. I would definitely recommend this book. Lots of lessons!

A great book for teach in valuable life lessons

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I loved it. Summer reading was completed about three times. I will listen to again.

Beautiful yet heartbreaking

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The book is missing so many parts of the story there are sentences being cut out

Incomplete

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I got this for use in my class, but it is too extremely abridged, so I really can't use it at all. It wouldn't be a problem if I was just reading for enjoyment, but this is different. It's my fault. I should have read the reviews before I got it.

Too abridged

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Loved the story.
Narrator needed better emotional characterization and dynamics on voices, but I got used to it after first chapter.

Timeless story about the American justice system

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Wonderful and very touching...need to be in the hands and heads of our young people...really enjoyed...couldn't stop reading...

Wonderful read...

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Set in the 1940′s, this is a remarkable story that highlights the lack of justice during that time (even though the justice system today has a LONG way to go). This book shows how important it is to stay true to yourself. To never give someone else the opportunity to take and shatter your personal dignity; that you came into this world alone and, unavoidably, you will leave the exact same way.

Injustice.

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The book is a really powerful book. This audible reading is extremely well done. I think I enjoyed the book a lot more because of Audible.

Great Book and Great Reading

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This is an edited version of the novel. Too many skips to keep up with if you have the original text. Better just listening, instead of following along.

Not Full Version

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