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Gathering of Old Men: Vintage Contemporaries

John Steinbeck

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Published in A Gathering Of Old Men (Vintage Contemporaries)

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Ernest J. Gaines's Gathering of Old Men is a powerful and moving collection of short stories that explore the lives of African Americans in the rural South. The stories are set in the fictional town of Bayonne, Louisiana, and they deal with themes of racial injustice, racial violence, and the civil rights movement. Gaines's writing is lyrical and evocative, and he creates a vivid sense of place and time. The stories in Gathering of Old Men are both timeless and timely, and they continue to resonate with readers today.

A Vintage Collection

Gathering of Old Men was first published in 1983, and it has since become a classic of American literature. The stories have been praised for their realism, their emotional depth, and their insights into the human condition. Gaines has been awarded numerous awards for his work, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the National Medal of Arts. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the recipient of the Langston Hughes Medal.

A Gathering of Old Men (Vintage Contemporaries)

by Ernest J. Gaines

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3106 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	226 pages

Contemporary Themes

The stories in Gathering of Old Men are set in the rural South during the civil rights movement. However, the themes that Gaines explores are still relevant today. The stories deal with issues of racial injustice, racial violence, and the struggle for equality. Gaines's writing is both personal and political, and he uses his stories to shine a light on the injustices that African Americans have faced throughout history.

The Power of Storytelling

One of the most striking things about Gathering of Old Men is Gaines's use of storytelling. The stories are told in a variety of styles, including realism, literary impressionism, and magical realism. Gaines uses these different styles to create a rich and textured narrative that captures the complexity of the human experience. The stories are also told from multiple perspectives, which allows Gaines to explore the different ways that people view the world.

A Lasting Legacy

Gathering of Old Men is a powerful and moving collection of short stories that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. Gaines's writing is lyrical and evocative, and he creates a vivid sense of place and time. The stories in Gathering of Old Men are both timeless and timely, and they continue to resonate with readers today.

NPR: 'Gathering of Old Men': Ernest J. Gaines And The Power Of Storytelling
NEH: Gathering of Old Men
The New York Times: BOOKS OF THE TIMES; Southern Justice, Old and New
The Washington Post: Ernest Gaines's `Gathering of Old Men' Richly Explores Rural Black Life in the South
Library of America: Gathering of Old Men

A Gathering of Old Men (Vintage Contemporaries)

by Ernest J. Gaines

4.7 out of 5