Mozart and Leadbelly: Stories and Essays

by Ernest J. Gaines

The beloved author of the classic, best-selling novel  A Lesson Before Dying  shares the inspirations behind his books and his reasons for becoming a writer in this collection of stories and essays.

Told in the simple and powerful prose that is a hallmark of his craft, these writings by Ernest J. Gaines faithfully evoke the sorrows and joys of rustic Southern life.

From his depiction of his childhood move to California — a move that propelled him to find books that conjured the sights, smells, and locution of his native Louisiana home — to his description of the real-life murder case that gave him the idea for his masterpiece; this wonderful collection is a revelation of both man and writer.

Genres: Short Stories, Essays, Fiction, Music, Historical, The United States Of America, African American Literature

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

Ernest James Gaines was an American author whose works have been taught in college classrooms and translated into many languages, including French, Spanish, German, Russian and Chinese. Four of his works were made into television movies.
His 1993 novel, A Lesson Before Dying, won the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. Gaines was a MacArthur Foundation fellow, was awarded the National Humanities Medal, and was inducted into the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) as a Chevalier.

Reviews

[Diane Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who is a fan of Ernest Gaines. There are essays explaining how and why he wrote "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman" and "A Lesson Before Dying", some auto biographical information, 5 of his early short stories, including the first one he had published, and an interview with him on his feelings about art and music. Great book for fans of his.

[CKE387 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the life story of Ernest J. Gaines and inspiration used in his writing. His story starts with his family history and growing up in Louisiana on a plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish, a community which helped shape his characters for stories. He built his current house on land of the same plantation where he was born and spent his early life. He also built a church near the cemetery grounds on the plantation. Little details enriched his lifestory such as chewing cane (sugar cane), cracking pecans, and rocking chairs on porches (when you read it in context, you'll understand). Gaines's writings grew out of a particular community and a particular place. This title refers to how people can equally draw inspiration from "ancestors" and "relatives". In Gaines's writing "ancestors" were used for examples of techniqe, form, beauty and artistic excellence - like Mozart, Mussovgsky & Turgenev. "Relatives" were used for examples of mastery of language, such as poetic blues lyrics and the blues culture of his youth - like Big Bill Broonzy, Lightnin Hopkins & Bessie Smith. His writings also showed the influences of Chekhov, Tolstoy, Pushkin, Gogol and Turgenev, since he considered certain experiences in life to be universal, just expressed differentlly depending on the culture in which it is expressed. "Their peasants were not caricatures or clowns. They did not make fun of them. They were people - they were good, they were bad. They could be as brutal as any man, they could be as kind. The American, writers in general, the Southern writer in particular, never saw peasantry, especially black peasantry, in this way; blacks were either caricatures of human beings or they were problems. They needed to be saved or they were saviors. They were either children or they were seers. But they were very seldom what the average being was." - Gaines
"These writers, who so poorly described blacks, did well with the odor of grass and trees after a summer rain; they were especially adept at describing the sweet odor in the clothes of men coming in from the fields; you could see, better than if you were actually there, the red dust in Georgia or the black mud of Mississippi." - Gaines
In most stories at that time, when a black person was mentioned, she was a mammy or he was a Tom;
"When a black woman character was young, she was either a potential mammy or a n****r wench, and if he was young, he was a potential Tom, a good n*****; or he was not a potential Tom, a bad n*****." - Gaines

I thought the inspiration was very insightful and it was interesting to read the backstory for his characters and the details that one might overlook when first reading his novels will make you want to read them again. I liked the real story of his life more than the short stories included in this collection. Actually I would give 4.75 stars - just didn't know how.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treat! The editors have collected “old and dusty” short stories (including “Mary Louise,” which was later fleshed out into Gaines’s novel Catherine Carmier), along with essays and speech transcriptions in which Gaines talks about his influences and his writing process. There is also a transcription of a conversation between Gaines, Gaudet, and poet Darrell Bourque, both of the latter associated with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where Gaines also teaches. For me, reading this book was exciting in the same way that going to hear Stephen Sondheim speak was exciting. It’s a glimpse into the creative process of one of the most respected and interesting people alive today, whose work I admire greatly, and who is in the latter years of his life.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to be amazed at the works of Ernest J. Gaines. This collection of essays, short stories and interviews with Mr. Gaines is so insightful and revelatory to his process and craft as a writer. In one essay he tells the story of how Miss Jane Pittman developed from a “sketch” from the plantation into a character who deserved and demanded her own book. He speaks of how music impacted his writing, as well as, other great authors and artists he studied and respected.

Although I have several favorite authors, Gaines is the first that has inspired me to want to research his craft, his life’s influences, his motivations and his inspirations. He is a great modern writer and this collection helps explain why.

[Bruce Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essays, short stories and a lengthy interview with the author. If you want an introduction to the work of Ernest Gaines- this is recommended. Gaines is honest about his craft and the effort he expended to polish it.

[Jerry Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5

This didn't really make any sense.
A few essays that had similar points.
A couple stories, some of which were like the essays.
An interview transcript.
I could have written this, no idea how it got published.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short mishmash of novelist Ernest Gaines essays on his writing process (fascinating), early short stories (showed the talent that would fully develop in his novels) and an excerpt of an onstage conversation (unnecessary and lengthy).

[Jeff too Much · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few short fiction pieces, a transcribed interview, and a few reflective non fiction pieces on process and characters. If you like Gaines previous writing this is a great peak behind the curtains. If you can’t name at least a couple of Gaines’ work…. Go read those first, then come back to this.

[Carol Rizzardi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked his short stories. The transcriptions of his speeches were a bit flat because transcriptions of speeches and talks always are.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gaines is becoming a favorite author for me. This is a collection of essays,stories and an interview.

[Kelly Buntin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read if you wish to enrich your experiences with his novels .

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

"While I was a student at Stanford in the late fifties, my writing professor, Wallace Stegner, asked me, "Who do you write for? Who do you want to spread your book?"

"I do not write for any particular groups, Mr. Stegner," I said, "I have learned too much from other writers, American and European, writers who definitely were not writing for me or about me."

"Maybe not for you Ernie, but many had a particular reader in mind. Now let's say a gun was put to your head and that same question was asked, "Who do you write for?"

"Well, in that case, Mr. Stegner, I would probably say that I write for the black youth of the South to let them know that their lives are worth writing about, and maybe in that way I could help them find themselves."

"Suppose a gun was still at your head and you were asked for another particular group you wished to reach."

"Well, in that case I would say that I also write for the white youth of the South to let them know that unless they know their neighbor of over three hundred years, they know only half of their own story."

[Diane Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essays really interesting, especially info about his experiences moving to the Bay Area. I lived in the area during the same time period, interesting to see if from his point of view. The essay about the influence of his Aunt was great - a call to all of us to always stand up for what is right. He knew people in the Jonestown cult. Stories of how he came to write his books and short stories was fascinating. The story of meeting a lawyer who defended a young black man up for the death penalty who was electrocuted in the traveling electric chair was chilling.

[Ms W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. W: This is a collection of short stories and essays written in strong, spare language that explores the author's life and career choice. I picked this book by title alone, what on earth could it imply? So glad I did, gained a real appreciation for a writer I had only "studied" before (Lesson Before Dying, Jane Pittman...) but now feel a camaraderie with.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Gaines' best effort, but still better than a lot of stuff out there. I really enjoyed the nonfiction essays the most; the short stories this time did not seem to grab me. I really enjoyed the piece on the backstory on the writing of LESSON.

[Stableboy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best still living writers around--Gaines has an evocative style reminiscent of Faulkner and Hemingway but literally sprung directly from the soil and people of Louisiana. A true writer of blood, grit, and heart.

[Sharon Beers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books contains fascinating conversations with Ernest Gaines in addition to several of his short stories. The conversations give detail into Gaines's background, his writing inspirations, his philosophies and his stories. It's excellent.

[Benjamin Thomas Sutpen]

http://sensemania.blogspot.com/2008/0...

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but not stellar.

[Lindsey Sparks · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I would have enjoyed this more had I read more of Gaines' works. I've only read A Lesson Before Dying. I liked the essay about that book and the one about The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman made me want to read that book, but most of the rest of material was just okay.