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A Gathering of Old Men
 

A Gathering of Old Men (Vintage Contemporaries)

by Ernest J. Gaines

Set on a Louisiana sugarcane plantation in the 1970s, A Gathering of Old Men is a powerful depiction of racial tensions arising over the death of a Cajun farmer at the hands of a black man.

"Poignant, powerful, earthy...a novel of Southern racial confrontation in which a group of elderly black men band together against whites who seek vengeance for the murder of one of their... (read more)

Top tags: fiction,  african-american,  murder,  historical fiction,  literature (all tags)

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  • HISTORICAL FIX & Other Lit Discussion Group

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Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

tanya s
  • Rated 5 stars

“Wonderful novel about the pivotal point in American history, when the tide turned against putting up with "the way it's always been," towards the civil rights movement & the recognition that hatred and bigotry, when they occur, are problems for all of us. Great book about standing up for what's right, even when you don't think you can win... & sometimes winning anyway, when enough folks are willing to stand with you.”

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Didn’t Like It

Sarah H
  • Rated 2 stars

“On A gathering of Old Men by Ernest J. Gaines: This is set in the 1970's in the "Deep South" during segregation. It tells the story of an African American who kills a Cajun farmer and all the characters tell their perspective on the murder and who they believe committed the crime. I really enjoyed the book until the last half and it became very repetitive and in many ways, boring.”

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Community:
  • Rated 4.133333 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • bonniegirl80

    bonniegirl80 said:

    “This book examines race relations from a new perspective...those from an older generation who suffered silently without putting up a fight. In this story, they get their chance to stand up to injustice.”

    posted Saturday, March 1 2008
  • angel

    angel said:

    “a story w...a...y... over due--one rarely told from this point of view”

    posted Tuesday, November 6 2007
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