I have been thinking of Southern writing a lot lately. Traveling through Pointe Coupee has inspired me to reread the work of Ernest J. Gaines. One of my favorite novels The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman and the wonderful actress Cicely Tyson who starred in the film version of the book introduced me to Gaines' work. Interesting that Gaines and Tyson were born in the same year, 1933, during the Great Depression. I look forward to reading more of Gaines' novels including Catherine Carmier his first novel.
Ernest J. Gaines was wonderfully inspired by the people of Louisiana. He and his wife live in Oscar, LA on HWY 1 on part of the old plantation where he grew up. I must have driven by his house the other day and did not realize it.
A short biography of Gaines here. Below, Gaines in 1995 near River Lake Plantation where he was born and raised and where his ancestors lived as slaves and afterward as sharecroppers.
Lisa:
ReplyDeleteIf you get a chance, make sure you come to the Pointe Coupee Book Fair on November 8th. Gaines will be there. Also, we're celebrating the 50th anniversary of Catherine Carmier this year. For more information, visit our website at ernestgaines.louisiana.edu.
Wonderful! Thank you Matthew. I will try to make it.
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