A Lesson Before Dying
Ernest J Gaines
literary fiction
historical fiction
past tense
first POV
~313 pp
A dark literary fiction. Expect minimal worldbuilding, dense, literary prose, epic scope. Plot-driven. Ends on an unresolved note. Contains notable violence, romance.
Matched by vibe, pacing, tone, and feel — not just genre.
| Word count | 78,172 |
| Page count | ~313 pp |
| Prologue | — |
| Epilogue | — |
| Tense | past |
| POV | first |